Lesson 1

[Robin Fellows]

WIM+AI – Module 4 – Lesson 1
Robin’s Character Journey Structure

MY VISION: I aim to make my writing flow naturally, like second nature, crafting stories that resonate globally and leave a mark, backed by a supportive team who really get what I'm about.
Today, I learned by creating the journey it reveals the story that is complicated and layered.
JAKE RENOLDS
Beginning: Jake Reynolds is introduced as a seasoned detective working in 2057 Los Angeles, where corruption and addiction plague the city. He struggles with his own demons, battling addiction while trying to maintain a sense of justice in a broken system.
Inciting Incident: The murder of Dr. Leonard Thornton, a whistleblower exposing illegal memory manipulation practices, is assigned to Jake. This case challenges Jake to confront the depths of corruption within the city, setting him on a collision course with powerful forces.
Turning Point 1: Jake discovers evidence linking Veronica Blackwood, a powerful figure in the city, to Dr. Thornton's murder. This revelation forces Jake to confront the true extent of corruption and deception, pushing him to pursue justice at any cost.
Act 2: Jake, joined by his team including Maya Chen and Adrian Vasquez, delves deeper into the investigation, uncovering a web of deceit and danger orchestrated by Veronica and the Dominion Syndicate. Despite facing numerous obstacles set in motion by Veronica, Jake remains determined to expose the truth.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Adrian Vasquez is exposed as a mole within Jake's team, betraying their trust and jeopardizing their mission. This betrayal shakes Jake to his core, but he resolves to press on, determined to bring down Veronica and the Syndicate.
Act 3: As Jake and his team formulate a daring plan to confront the Syndicate, they face increasingly dangerous confrontations, culminating in a high-stakes standoff. Jake confronts his addiction head-on, realizing that overcoming his personal demons is essential to achieving justice.
Turning Point 3: In a heart-pounding climax, Jake and his team launch a final assault on the Syndicate's stronghold, risking everything to expose their crimes and bring them to justice.
Act 4 Climax: The truth about Veronica's scheme is unveiled, leading to her downfall and the dismantling of the Syndicate. Despite the challenges and personal sacrifices, Jake emerges victorious, finding redemption in confronting his addiction and embracing his role as a force for change in the city.
Resolution: As the city begins to heal from the corruption and chaos, Jake finds solace in knowing that his efforts have made a difference. He continues to serve as a beacon of hope, determined to prevent the city from falling back into darkness.
VERONICA BLACKWOOD
Beginning: Veronica Blackwood is introduced as a powerful and influential figure in 2057 Los Angeles, with a facade of sophistication and charm that masks her true ruthless nature. She operates behind the scenes, pulling strings and manipulating events to maintain control over the city's underworld.
Inciting Incident: The murder of Dr. Leonard Thornton threatens to expose Veronica's illegal activities, sending shockwaves through her carefully constructed empire. Determined to protect her secrets at all costs, Veronica puts a hit on Dr. Thornton and sets in motion a chain of events that will test her resolve like never before.
Turning Point 1: Veronica learns that Jake Reynolds, a tenacious detective with a reputation for uncovering the truth, has been assigned to investigate Dr. Thornton's murder. Recognizing Jake as a threat to her operation, Veronica sets out to neutralize him before he can unravel her carefully laid plans.
Act 2: As Jake delves deeper into the investigation, Veronica pulls out all the stops to undermine his efforts and maintain control over the city. She manipulates her connections within the police department and the Syndicate to thwart Jake at every turn, determined to protect her empire.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Veronica's carefully constructed facade begins to crack as Jake gets closer to uncovering the truth. Facing mounting pressure and threats from all sides, Veronica realizes that she may have underestimated Jake's tenacity and resolve.
Act 3: As Jake and his team close in on the Syndicate, Veronica's grip on power begins to slip. She resorts to increasingly desperate measures to protect her secrets, leading to a dangerous game of cat and mouse with Jake that threatens to expose everything she has worked so hard to conceal.
Turning Point 3: In a last-ditch effort to save herself, Veronica orchestrates a final showdown with Jake, hoping to eliminate him once and for all. However, her plans backfire, and she finds herself facing the consequences of her actions as the truth comes to light.
Act 4 Climax: Veronica's empire crumbles around her as the full extent of her crimes is revealed to the world. Despite her attempts to escape justice, she is ultimately brought to account for her actions, facing the consequences of her ruthless pursuit of power.
Resolution: As Veronica's downfall sends shockwaves through the city, she is left to reflect on the choices that led her down this path. Despite her fall from grace, she remains defiant to the end, refusing to show remorse for the lives she has destroyed.
AI PROMPT
Character Journeys:
Jake Reynolds:
Beginning: Jake, a once-respected detective battling addiction and personal demons, is assigned to investigate Dr. Thornton's murder.
Turning Point: He confronts the corruption within the police force, realizing the depth of the conspiracy.
Midpoint: Adrian's betrayal and Maya's capture force Jake to reassess his approach and confront his addiction.
Turning Point: A setback jeopardizes the team's efforts, forcing Jake to confront his addiction demons.
Dilemma: Jake faces a choice between succumbing to his addiction or staying committed to the investigation, knowing that failure could mean losing everything.
Major Conflict: In the climactic showdown, Jake confronts his addiction while leading the team in exposing corrupt figures and bringing justice to the city.
Ending: Despite the challenges, Jake finds redemption and closure, overcoming his addiction and embracing his role as a force for change in the city.
Veronica Blackwood:
Beginning: Veronica, a cunning criminal mastermind, orchestrates schemes to maintain control over the Syndicate.
Turning Point: She learns of Jake's investigation and sets out to neutralize him before he exposes her.
Midpoint: Facing mounting pressure, Veronica's facade begins to crack as she grapples with internal and external threats.
Turning Point: A major setback forces Veronica to confront the consequences of her actions and the limitations of her power.
Dilemma: Veronica faces a choice between sacrificing her allies or betraying herself, knowing that either option could lead to her downfall.
Major Conflict: In the climax, Veronica's empire crumbles as the truth is unveiled, exposing her crimes and vulnerabilities to the world.
Ending: Despite her defiance, Veronica is brought to account for her actions, facing the consequences of her ruthless pursuit of power.
Maya Chen:
Beginning: Maya, a skilled data analyst, joins Jake's investigation, driven by a sense of justice and a desire to make a difference.
Turning Point: She uncovers crucial data linking corrupt elites to Dr. Thornton's murder, becoming a target for the Syndicate.
Midpoint: Maya's capture and Adrian's betrayal shake her resolve, forcing her to confront the dangers of her involvement.
Turning Point: A setback tests Maya's determination and commitment to the investigation, challenging her to overcome her doubts.
Dilemma: Maya faces a choice between protecting herself or risking everything to expose the truth, knowing that failure could have dire consequences.
Major Conflict: In the climax, Maya's data analysis leads to a groundbreaking exposé, exposing corruption and bringing justice to the city.
Ending: Despite the dangers, Maya emerges victorious, finding validation in her skills and making a meaningful impact in the fight against corruption.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Robin Fellows.

[Edward Lusk]

ED'S CHARACTER STRUCTURE.

MY VISION is to be a bankable, reputable, and industry go-to writer who’s demonstrated how to entertain and hold an audience’s attention through unforgettable characters and stories that are as enjoyable to write as they are to watch.

What I learned doing this assignment is how to apply character structure to story structure build emotion, important turning points, and additional layers to the surface story. Doing this step correctly will double the quality of the script.

Act 1: Introduction to the Old Ways

1. BEGINNING
It’s Christmas chaos at the fragrance counter. In the middle of it all is HOWIE, spritzing samples and fending off insults. Howie uses humor as a defense mechanism. His witty, often sarcastic comments mask his true feelings and provide charm to his otherwise grumpy demeanor.

A peculiar customer, JASPER, partially hidden under an oversized Santa hat, is filled with too much Christmas joy sparks Howie’s curiosity and reluctant attraction. Jasper hides fear of failure and desperation behind charm. Howie recommends, Magical Nights, which is coincidentally is Howie’s boyfriend’s favorite.

At Winterberry Manor, Howie’s grandparent’s home. Grandpa Nick and Grandma Evie are cleaning up a huge mess around the hearth. They are overly worried if the chimney can be repaired by Christmas.

2. INCITING INCIDENT
Back at the store , “The Boyfriend” arrives to witnesses what he thinks is Howie flirting with Jasper and declares Howie and he are NOT going away for Christmas and they are finished.

The ugly breakup gets the attention of the store Santa, Howie’s jealous best friend, JESÚS, who leaves his photograph castle and crying children behind joining the fray always seeking an opportunity to gain Howie’s favor.

Amongst the renewed chaos Jasper drops a weird insinuation they are all going on the naughty list. With a jingle of his Santa hat he vanishes into the crowd as the irritable customers transform into whimsically polite people. Howie’s had enough, quits storming off leaving Jesús wondering just what the hell happened.

3. TURNING POINT 1
Howie’s depressed and Jesús doing his best to cheer him up with the lates gossip. Howie laments over being rejected by his family when he came out on Christmas morning.

Howie swears off Christmas, that “weird guy” at the store, his family, and in general, anything that would bring him joy. Jesús sees an opening to progress their friendship to something more.

Jesús convinces Howie not to be alone at Christmas and they should drive up to Howie’s grandparents before the storm hits. They are just eccentric enough to make the holiday tolerable.

Act 2: Exploration and New Challenges

4. NEW PLAN
At the Grandparents Winterberry manor, Howie and Jesús are surprised to find Jasper is a caregiver living there. Howie and Jesús scheme on ways to find out if Jasper is there to scam his grandparents. Grandpa Nick, keeper of secrets, is his usual warm and humorous self, hopeful for a traditional Christmas despite past disappointments.

Jasper annoys and confronts Howie’s unhappiness in a series of parodies of Hallmark Christmas moments both disastrous, comedic, and insightful.

Jesús realizes Jasper might become more than just a friend to Howie, triggering his jealousy and skepticism.

Grandma Evie seeing Howie’s interest in Jasper sparks hope for family healing and rekindling traditions but frustrated because she can not tell Howie the truth about Jasper.

5. PLAN IN ACTION
Jesús feeling sidelined as Howie and Jasper grow closer with every Christmas movie parody, raising questions about the nature of their relationship and what secrets are they hiding. What makes Howie so bitter and is Jasper really who he appears to be? Is Jasper gay?

Jesús, the third wheel, sabotages Howie’s efforts to form a relationship with Jasper while conniving to win over Howie. Introduces a subplot of friendship alongside the main romance, emphasizing the theme of personal growth and the balance between different relationships.

Amongst the drama, Grandma Evie is wise and nurturing, longing for family reconciliation and passing down holiday traditions. She encourages Howie to reach out to his parents but is met by strong opposition.

6. MIDPOINT TURNING POINT
Jasper comes out – as an elf. Of course he is “gay” because all elves are “gay” – leaving double entendre hanging over everyone.

Howie’s confused as Jasper explains his secret situation and circumstances leaving the North Pole to fix the broken magical chimney which allows Santa egress to all chimneys world-wide.

Their bond deepens through shared vulnerability. Jasper was not accepted at North Pole and Howie was not accepted by his immediate family. Jasper entrusting Howie with the magical chimney secret, adding layers to their relationship and setting up higher stakes – Christmas is off is Jasper fails.

Grandpa Evie becomes more involved in the efforts to repair the chimney, emphasizing the importance of family unity.

Act 3: Reevaluation and Conflict

7. RETHINK EVERYTHING
The Winterberry Manor chimney portal requires true Christmas spirit to function, also a metaphor for Howie's inner transformation requirement.

Jasper and Howie find in their shared experience. Howie – rejected by his family when he came out on Christmas morning. Jasper – rejected by North Pole elves for his more human appearance sparking his decision to fix the chimney on his own, a mistake that has endangered Christmas, now certainly faces fear of rejection and failure.

Jasper’s redemption is in Howie’s hands as he must discover the true Christmas spirit to break the spell which has befallen the magical chimney portal.

Howie must devise a plan to fix it, even though a canceled Christmas is just fine with Howie plus if successful Jasper will go back to the North Pole – forever, which is not okay with Howie but okay with Jesús.

Grandpa Nick becomes a key player in the group’s efforts to repair the chimney, symbolizing the potential for fixing past mistakes. His close bond with Howie is tested as he asks Howie to do the unthinkable – forgive his parents betrayal.

8. TURNING POINT
Despite a genuine group effort by Howie, Grandpa Nick, Jesús, and Jasper the chimney repair comedically fails and Christmas Eve is here. There’s finger pointing and hurt feelings all around as mistrust and secret motives come into play. Jesús’s fears and insecurities are brought to the forefront.

The failure to repair the chimney tests Grandpa Nick resilience and optimism. Grandpa Nick must decide whether to focus on fixing the chimney or addressing the deeper family issues.
Grandma Evie's efforts to heal the family are tested by the tensions and secrets revealed during the chimney repair.
Jasper’s belief in Howie and Christmas spirit deepens their bond. Jasper wonder’s if staying is not such a bad thing after all.
Jesús fears Howie wants Jasper to stay, Jasper believes Jesús sabotaged the effort and Howie believes he is being framed for the whole thing jeopardizing their relationships and Christmas.
The failure of the chimney repair and subsequent conflict highlights Grandma Evie’s own unresolved family rifts. She must confront her past regrets and decide whether to push for reconciliation or let things be.

Act 4: Climax and Resolution
9. CLIMAX/ULTIMATE EXPRESSION OF THE CONFLICT
Grandpa Nick’s efforts lead to a breakthrough in family unity and the successful repair of the chimney, embodying the spirit of resilience and love.
Howie reconciles a deep rift with his parents achieving a newfound belief in the Christmas spirit and love empowerment, magical charm to repair the chimney. Jasper must choose between staying with Howie, potentially jeopardizing Christmas, or leaving to fix his mistake.
Jasper despite the heartbreak, goes back to the North Pole saving Christmas. Jesús disappears leaving Howie emotionally heeled but alone and grateful for his blessings.

10. Resolution
Howie’s working the returns counter and hidden behind a gift wrapped box is Jasper, transformed into a human, returns to Howie, having learned to embrace vulnerability and accept help, ready to start a new chapter.

But how? Jesús trades places with Jasper, becoming an elf and finding his own path, while ensuring Howie’s happiness.

Evelyn’s wish for family reconciliation is fulfilled as Howie finds love and the family unites around the true spirit of Christmas.
Jesús is a North Pole Elf, his happy place. Howie and Jasper are enjoying romance and together as small shop owners and new custodians of the the magic chimney.

[Sunil Pappu]

Sunil Pappu’s Character Structure

My Vision: I’m a successful produced writer who specializes in female-led thrillers.

“What I learned from doing this assignment is… to create character journeys for my main lead characters.”

Character Journeys

Character Journey: Protagonist – Ria Sarkar
• Beginning: Ria’s failed spy mission and her father’s dishonor added to her childhood trauma that deepened her fear of water and closed spaces – introduce her as a highly skilled but emotionally scarred radio operator
• Inciting Incident: Selected for an impossible mission that none of her other colleagues want to take up.
• Turning Point 1: Ria fails a crucial communication she didn’t know she had to intercept which results in the loss of rebel lives and gets her off on the wrong footing with the misogynistic Captain Desai.
• Act 2: Ria’s trauma resurfaces when she refuses to take part in a mandatory diving drill and Capt. Desai calls his superiors to take her off the mission. Ria intercepts her first crucial message when Rehman helps her confront her fear of water to complete the diving drill, but the team’s success is short-lived when tensions erupt with Cdr Vikram after Rehman’s recklessness.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Ria is blamed for negligence when a dive led by Vikram results in Rehman's death. This incident plants seeds of distrust within the crew and pushes Ria to the brink. Ria intercepts a communication meant for Commander Vikram and learns that he was sent as a trojan horse – he didn’t abandon his ship like the rest of his crew willingly to fight with the rebels. His mission is to eliminate Ria and the rebel crew.
• Act 3: In desperation, Ria feeds false intelligence to test her suspicions, which tragically results in civilian casualties on both sides of the border.
• Turning Point 3: Ria's relentless pursuit of the truth leads her to evidence of Vikram's betrayal but before she can inform Secy. Verma she uncovers the fabrication of her father’s dishonor by her mentor and feels betrayed.
• Dilemma: Ria faces a dilemma of whether to focus on intercepting the crucial message to save the mission or confront Vikram and clear her name, risking her life in the process. Her delay costs her and her crew dearly.
• Act 4 Climax: Their ship is sabotaged and now Ria must decode the message before they sink underwater. An underwater showdown between Ria and Vikram occurs. Carrying the weight of Rehman’s death and her own tarnished reputation, underwater while she fights Vikram and reconnects the cable to intercept a crucial message. Capt Anirudh and his crew fight Pakistani frogmen and save the ship from going under.
• Resolution: Intercepted cables reveal US support for Pakistan, legitimizing India's backing of East Pakistani rebels. Ria's victory is bittersweet as she mourns Rehman, restores her father's legacy, and gains Captain Anirudh's respect, who offers to make amends when the crew refuses to abandon the ship and keeps it afloat to help her carry out her mission.
•

Character Journey: Antagonist – Cdr. Vikram Singh
• Beginning: A Pakistan Naval Officer is disillusioned with the government red tape but is reluctant to disobey orders while his East Pakistan crew abandon the ship in French waters to secretly join the rebel forces in East India.
• Inciting Incident: Reveals his true ideological beliefs to his Pakistani Admiral who wants him to infiltrate the rebels and join them.
• Turning Point 1: Calls home in East Pakistan to find out that his sister was killed in a protest march by the rebel forces in their retaliation against the Pakistani military.
• Act 2: Takes credit for the bravery of his crew to make the crossing to India and is given charge for the rebel crew mission to sabotage Pakistani Naval ships and create a blockade of the supply lines for their entry to East Pakistan.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Ria false intelligence test works and she intercepts a message meant for him and Cdr Vikram in desperation to stop her communications cuts off the cables and kills Lt. Rehman who catches him doing it.
• Act 3: Cdr. Vikram needs a new way to communicate and charms his way with Capt. Desai to send a secret message to the enemy.
• Turning Point 3: The rebels succeed in sabotaging Pakistani ships due to Ria’s attention to detail and despite his attempts to mislead them. His true intentions are at risk of being exposed.
• Dilemma: Vikram faces the choice of either abandoning his mission to sabotage the rebel crew or continuing his treacherous path, risking exposure and failure.
• Act 4 Climax: Pakistani frogmen sabotage their ship but Ria fights Vikram underwater and overpowers him to intercept the top-secret message they have been waiting for.
• Resolution: Cdr. Vikram is captured and exposed as a traitor. His ideological beliefs are shattered, bringing an end to his descent into betrayal. It is revealed that the Pakistani military slaughtered his sister, and she gave her life joining the rebel forces to fight for freedom.

Character Journey: Captain Anirudh Desai
Beginning: Captain Desai begins as a rugged and authoritative man with traditionalist views, haunted by past mission failures and a recent divorce.
Turning Point 1: Desai is called to lead the mission despite his reluctance, facing tensions with Ria. He initially resists her presence and competence, projecting his guilt and prejudice onto her.
Midpoint: Desai's leadership is challenged by Ria's competence during an emergency diving drill. His misogynistic views and commanding presence are tested, leading to internal conflict and growth.
Turning Point 2: Ria's relentless pursuit of the truth and evidence of Vikram's betrayal force Desai to confront his own prejudices and failures. The ship is sabotaged, and he must work with Ria to save the mission.
Dilemma: Desai faces a dilemma of either maintaining his traditional views and failing the mission or accepting Ria's competence and leading his crew to success.
Major Conflict: Desai fights alongside Ria and the crew against Pakistani frogmen, realizing the importance of teamwork and overcoming his internal biases.
Ending: Desai gains respect for Ria, reconciles his past failures, and offers to make amends. His leadership and experience are crucial to the mission's success, and he evolves into a more accepting and competent leader.

Character Journey: Lieutenant Rehman Khan
Beginning: Rehman starts as a brave but reckless adventurist, haunted by survivor's guilt and the need to prove his worth.
Turning Point 1: Rehman supports Ria during an emergency diving drill, helping her face her trauma. His impulsiveness and heroism drive him to take risks to prove his worth.
Midpoint: A dive led by Vikram results in Rehman's death, sacrificing himself for the mission. His reckless behavior and desire for heroism lead to his ultimate downfall.
Turning Point 2: Rehman's death impacts the crew, especially Ria, pushing her to the brink and planting seeds of distrust. His actions serve as a turning point for Ria's journey and the mission's dynamics.
Dilemma: Rehman faces the dilemma of continuing his reckless behavior to prove his worth or adopting caution and teamwork for the mission's success.
Major Conflict: Rehman's ultimate sacrifice and death during the dive highlight his journey from a reckless adventurist to a selfless freedom fighter.
Ending: Rehman's death serves as a catalyst for Ria's transformation and the mission's success. His legacy as a martyr and freedom fighter is honored, and his actions inspire the crew.

Character Journey: Secretary Arjun Varma
Beginning: Varma begins as a stoic and strategic leader, burdened by past failures and the need for redemption.
Turning Point 1: Varma guides Ria and the team through the treacherous mission, using his strategic mind and compassion to protect his team. His unconventional methods are both envied and underestimated.
Midpoint: Varma's manipulation and plotting from the background ensure the mission's direction. He withholds critical information and presents certain truths to motivate the team.
Turning Point 2: Ria uncovers evidence of Vikram's betrayal and the fabrication of her father's dishonor by Varma. The ship is sabotaged, and Varma must confront his past failures and guide the team to success.
Dilemma: Varma faces the dilemma of either maintaining control and withholding information or trusting Ria and the team to take risks and succeed.
Major Conflict: Varma's strategic manipulation and guidance are crucial during the mission's climax. He pulls the strings to ensure each piece moves according to his broader strategy.
Ending: Varma's unconventional methods and leadership result in the mission's success. He redeems himself for past failures, gains respect from the team, and secures his legacy as a key strategic general in the unconventional war efforts.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Sunil Pappu.

[Harry Rankin]

Harry’s Character Structure

My vision for success from this program is:
To create scripts freely when working with producers, directors and cast, and sell award-winning work to create a lifestyle confident of financial freedom.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: Thinking about the individual structure of my main characters will help plot their actions and reactions in an orderly manner.

SULI – Protagonist
Beginning: Arrives at Training
Inciting Incident: Nearly drowns in pool
Turning Point 1: Sex in Space
Act 2: Mission starts
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Crash!
Act 3: Pregnancy
Turning Point 3: Rescue fails
Act 4 Climax: Birth
Resolution: Prepare to return

JON – Protagonist
Beginning: Arrives at Training
Inciting Incident: Saves Suli in pool
Turning Point 1: Sex in Space
Act 2: Mission starts
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Crash!
Act 3: Pregnancy
Turning Point 3: Rescue fails
Act 4 Climax: Birth
Resolution: Prepare to return

HARRISON – Antagonist
Beginning: Runs for President
Inciting Incident: Fails to become President
Turning Point 1: Approached by arms coalition
Act 2: Fosters ill content globally
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Space launch seems positive
Act 3: Attempts to block space mission
Turning Point 3: Engineers crash
Act 4 Climax: Outed by press secretary and Press corps
Resolution: Exiled…. or is he…?

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Harry Rankin.

[LJ (Lawrence John) Seliski]

LJ’s Character Structure
My vision is to write incredible high-concept screenplays that are made into popular, financially successful movies.

What I learned from doing this assignment is how to create character structure which is part of how to create a multi-layered outline for my screenplay.

Title = Defiant Allies
Genre = Sci-Fi
Concept = Eighteen-year-old Mia Vance, who was abused as a foster child, rescues Ariael, a gifted, exiled alien twelve-year-old Princess, and agrees to help her avoid capture by Zarael, the Princess’s twenty-four-year-old identical twin sister, an adversary who wants to misuse the Princess’s gift and is involved in a conspiracy that threatens both humanity and alien kind.

Lead Character = Mia Vance
Role = Co-Protagonist
Act 1: Set up and see Old Ways

Beginning: Introduce Mia Vance as a survivor of foster care abuse, haunted by her traumatic past and struggling with trust issues. She conceals her own pain while focusing on protecting others, driven by a deep sense of empathy towards those who suffer.

Inciting Incident: Mia encounters Ariael, the exiled alien princess, and agrees to help her evade capture by Zarael, her tyrannical twin sister. This decision thrusts Mia into a world of danger and intrigue, where she must navigate through a web of conspiracies to protect the princess.

Turning Point: Mia commits to helping Ariael, locking herself into a conflict with Zarael and setting the stage for her transformative journey.

Act 2: Challenge the Old Ways

Reaction: Mia begins to confront her own demons and gradually opens up to the possibility of forming genuine connections. Her experiences alongside Ariael challenge her preconceived notions and force her to reevaluate her beliefs and priorities.

The Plan: Mia’s attempts to protect Ariael are met with obstacles, forcing her to rely on her resourcefulness and determination to outwit their adversaries. Her old ways are challenged as she learns that vulnerability can be a strength.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Mia discovers a shocking revelation about Ariael’s powers and the conspiracy surrounding them, shifting her understanding of the situation and deepening the stakes of her mission.

Act 3: Profound moments that give us new ways

Rethink: Mia undergoes a transformation as she realizes the extent of the danger they face and the need for a new plan. She confronts her trust issues and learns to rely on others for support, embracing vulnerability as a strength.

New Plan: Mia teams up with Ariael and their allies to devise a new strategy to thwart Zarael’s plans. She takes actions she never would have considered before, embracing her role as a protector and leader.

Turning Point 3: Mia faces a devastating setback as Zarael gains the upper hand, pushing her to the lowest of lows and forcing her to confront her deepest fears.

Act 4: Test the change in this character! Prove New Ways!

Climax: Mia confronts Zarael in a final showdown, drawing upon her newfound strength and the bonds she has forged to emerge victorious. She faces the ultimate test of her transformation, risking everything to protect Ariael and secure a better future for both humanity and alien kind.

Resolution: Mia emerges from her journey changed but triumphant, embracing her role as a protector and finding strength in vulnerability. She has overcome her past traumas and forged deep connections with those around her, embodying resilience, empathy, and courage in the face of adversity.

Lead Character = Ariael
Role = Co-Protagonist/Triangle Character
Act 1: Set up and see Old Ways
Beginning: Ariael starts the story as a vulnerable yet determined young alien princess, haunted by the betrayal that led to her exile. She carries the weight of responsibility for her people’s safety and struggles with feelings of isolation and insecurity.

Inciting Incident: Ariael’s encounter with Mia marks the beginning of her journey to escape from her pursuers and uncover the truth about the conspiracy threatening both humanity and alien kind.

Turning Point: Ariael’s decision to trust Mia and embark on a dangerous journey away from her familiar surroundings locks her into a conflict with her sister, Zarael, and the forces pursuing them.

Act 2: Challenge the Old Ways

Reaction: Ariael faces the challenges of life outside her comfort zone, relying on her old ways of secrecy and manipulation to navigate the dangers of the cosmos.

The Plan: As Ariael and Mia attempt to evade capture, their initial plans quickly falter, forcing Ariael to confront the limitations of her old ways and adapt to the unfamiliar circumstances.

Turning Point 2 (Midpoint): A shocking revelation about the true nature of the conspiracy and the extent of her sister’s involvement disrupts Ariael’s perception of reality, forcing her to reassess her priorities and alliances.

Act 3: With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways

Rethink: Ariael undergoes a profound transformation as she confronts her past traumas and embraces her true identity, recognizing the need for a new plan to confront the growing threats against her and her allies.

New Plan: With newfound clarity and resolve, Ariael takes charge of her destiny, forging alliances with other alien races and confronting her adversaries head-on in pursuit of justice and redemption.

Turning Point 3: Ariael faces the ultimate test of her newfound strength and determination as she confronts Zarael and the forces behind the conspiracy in a climactic showdown.

Act 4: Test the change in this character! Prove New Ways!

Climax: In a final confrontation with Zarael, Ariael proves her worth as a leader and protector, using her powers and alliances to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds and secure a brighter future for her people.

Resolution: With the conspiracy thwarted and her enemies defeated, Ariael emerges as a symbol of hope and resilience, leading her people into a new era of peace and prosperity.

Lead Character = Zarael
Role = Antagonist
Act 1: Set up and see Old Ways

Beginning: Introduce Zarael as the ambitious, power-hungry twin sister of Ariael. Show her cunning and manipulative nature as she schemes to regain favor and power.

Inciting Incident: Ariael’s escape and Mia’s involvement set Zarael’s pursuit in motion. Zarael sees Ariael’s escape as a direct threat to her plans for dominance.

Turning Point: Zarael is determined to capture Ariael, seeing it as her opportunity to solidify her control and eliminate her rival.

Act 2: Challenge the Old Ways

Reaction: Zarael’s initial attempts to capture Ariael are thwarted, challenging her usual methods of manipulation and coercion.

The Plan: Zarael employs various tactics, from bribery to intimidation, to capture Ariael, but each attempt fails, forcing her to reassess her approach.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Zarael discovers the depth of the conspiracy and realizes the true extent of the threat posed by Ariael’s escape, altering her perception of the situation.

Act 3: With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways

Rethink: Zarael realizes that her previous methods won’t work against the conspiracy, prompting her to devise a new, more ruthless plan.

New Plan: Zarael enacts her new plan, which involves leveraging her connections and resources to track down Ariael and crush any opposition.

Turning Point 3: Zarael faces a setback as her allies betray her, leading to a moment of desperation and reckoning.

Act 4: Test the change in this character! Prove New Ways!

Climax: Zarael confronts Ariael and Mia in a final showdown, where she must confront her own flaws and vulnerabilities to emerge victorious.

Resolution: Zarael’s world is forever changed as she realizes the cost of her obsession with power and control, setting the stage for her redemption or further descent into darkness.

[Pat Fitzgerald]

Pat Fitzgerald's Character Structure

My vision is to have fun while completing this course with a contest-winning script that will establish me as a courageous and original writer.
What I learned from this assignment is that I’m walking a fine line between dark comedy and dramatic tragedy, but I remain confident that I can pull this off. Giving myself the freedom to not strive for perfection has allowed my creativity to flow.
Tammi Jenkins – Protagonist.
Beginning: Tammi watches with glee as her husband falls from a ladder and crushes his skull.
Inciting Incident: Tammi moves into a retirement village where she is reunited with her high school bestie, Violet Pankowski and they look forward to returning to pulling mean pranks on the village’s residents, ala their high school behavior.
Turning Point One: Tammi lends her car to a new friend who constantly complains over hating old age. Tammi neglects to tell her the brakes are bad, thinking if she has an accident she might start appreciating her life again.. The new friend dies in a car accident.
Act Two: Tammi and Violet perform an elaborate ceremony in which they declare themselves “angels of mercy,” vowing to end the lives of retirement home residents whom they deem no longer have quality of life.
Act Two Turning Point: Tammi realizes that she is losing control over Violet when Violet acts independently in determining whose live should end.
Act Three: Tammi is diagnosed with terminal cancer and starts to question her decision to put others out of their misery – she sees value in life that is not a perfect life.
Act Three Turning Point: Violet learns of Tammi’s diagnosis, and Tammi realizes that Violet my put her on Violet’s hit list.
Act Four Climax: Tammi and Violet face off, each trying to do the other in.
Resolution: After a cat and mouse competition Tammi and Violet both end up dead – nobody wins.

Antagonist: Violet Pankowski
Beginning: Violet and Tammi had been besties in high school. Both delighted in pulling mean pranks on their classmates, but Violet was secretly jealous that Tammi was the dominant one in their relationship.
Inciting Incident: Violet is conflicted when Tammi moves into her retirement village. She’s happy to have friend with whom she can identify, but fears that Tammi will once again dominate her life.
Turning Point One: Despite jealousy over Tammi’s popularity in the village, Violet is happy to revive the cruel pranks they pulled in high school.
Act 2: Violet takes part in Tammi’s “angel of mercy” ceremony while she vows that she will someday get her revenge on Tammi for thinking that Violet must always be the follower.
Act 2Turning Point/Midpoint : Violet succeeds in ending the life of a man with dementia, something she knows Tammi had tried to do and failed.
Act 3: Violet takes Tammi on a tour of the village’s memory care unit, suggesting that, perhaps they should set fire to it and put all these folks out of their misery.
Turning Point 3: Violet impersonates Tammi when she phones Tammi’s doctor and learns that Tammi has terminal cancer.
Act 4/Climax: Violet decides to take the ultimate revenge on Tammi, but Tammi eludes her making Violet increasing furious.
Resolution: Violet takes dangerous steps to pursue Tammi and makes a fatal mistake that leaves both of them dead.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Pat Fitzgerald.

[Madeleind Gentinetta]

Madeleine’s Character Structure
Vision: I am going to do whatever it takes for me to be a writer of original, emotionally rich stories, recognized for depth, humor, and enduring impact, resulting in financial, critical and audience success.

What I learned from doing this assignment is: Thanks to this exercise I was able to generate a much stronger opponent. Because I have different opponents, the chatgtp responses gave many different points to attack Mary’s journey.
That was a great help. I also know, it’s not perfect yet but I proceed…

Mary (Protagonist)
Beginning: Mary is a glamorous, renowned jazz singer who believes that youth and beauty are essential for success and relevance. She is confident on stage but deeply insecure and fearful of aging off stage.
Turning Point: Mary's life takes a drastic turn when she breaks her hip after falling off the stage, forcing her into rehab at a retirement home.
Midpoint: Mary reluctantly joins the book buddies program as an exchange for rehearsal space but faces a major setback when the new bar owner pressures Vince to replace her with a younger singer. Mary must find a new way to return to the stage.
Turning Point: Mary creates a new "Marlene program" with the elderly and children, believing she has something unique. However, her confidence is shattered when a journalist trashes her performance.
Dilemma: Mary faces a choice between reverting to her old ways to satisfy Vince and potentially save her career or embracing her new program and risking further humiliation and failure.
Major Conflict: Vince insists on Mary returning to her old performance style, but she decides to stick with her new, authentic approach, leading to a final showdown.
Ending: Mary performs on stage as her true self, without the heavy makeup and pretense, embracing her age and experiences. She realizes true success comes from authenticity, not superficiality.

Placid (Antagonist)
Beginning: Placid is a highly disciplined and orderly director of the retirement home, known for his strict adherence to rules. He hides his love for dancing and struggles to suppress his emotional side.
Turning Point: Placid’s orderly world is disrupted by Mary's arrival and her unorthodox ways, challenging his rigid control over the retirement home.
Midpoint: Placid becomes increasingly antagonistic towards Mary as she starts the "Marlene program," seeing it as a threat to the home's order and his authority.
Turning Point: Placid's secret passion for dance is accidentally revealed, adding a personal stake to his opposition against Mary's program, fearing it will undermine his authority if known.
Dilemma: Placid must choose between embracing his passion for dance and risking his professional reputation or continuing to suppress his true self and maintain his authority.
Major Conflict: Placid tries to sabotage Mary's performance, creating a climactic conflict where his own hidden vulnerabilities are exposed.
Ending: Placid is forced to confront his fear of being seen as weak. He eventually acknowledges his love for dance and allows himself to be emotionally expressive, finding a new way to connect with the residents.

Vince (Opponent 1)
Beginning: Vince is Mary’s long-time manager who initially supports her return to the stage but becomes pressured by the new bar owner to find a younger performer.
Turning Point: Vince’s loyalty is tested as he is coerced by the new bar owner to replace Mary, putting him at odds with her goals.
Midpoint: Vince decides to support the new bar owner's decision, leading to a confrontation with Mary about her ability to attract an audience.
Turning Point: Despite his attempts to help Mary, Vince is ultimately swayed by the bar owner’s demands and begins looking for a replacement, further undermining Mary’s confidence.
Dilemma: Vince struggles between his professional duty to ensure the bar’s success and his personal loyalty to Mary.
Major Conflict: Vince’s decision to fully back the bar owner’s plan puts him in direct conflict with Mary, leading to a decisive moment where he must choose between business and friendship.
Ending: Vince realizes that Mary’s authentic performance could be a unique selling point. He supports her final show, helping to promote it despite the risk to his professional reputation.

Sophie (Traveling Angel)
Beginning: Sophie is a young, shy resident or worker at the retirement home, initially skeptical of Mary's influence and dismissive of her attempts to reclaim her former glory.
Turning Point: Sophie’s skepticism is challenged when Mary encourages her to come out of her shell and embrace her own unique qualities.
Midpoint: Sophie witnesses Mary's struggle and begins to see the value in Mary’s authenticity, prompting her to become more supportive.
Turning Point: Sophie becomes an active supporter of Mary’s "Marlene program," helping to organize and promote it despite initial resistance from others.
Dilemma: Sophie faces a choice between supporting Mary’s unorthodox methods and adhering to the more conservative expectations of the retirement home’s administration.
Major Conflict: Sophie stands up to Placid and the new bar owner, advocating for Mary’s new program and highlighting the importance of authenticity over superficial success.
Ending: Sophie’s support helps Mary’s final performance succeed, and she finds her own voice and confidence through the process, embodying the positive change Mary inspires.

Robert (Opponent 2)
Beginning: Robert starts as a protective and overbearing son who believes his aging mother should no longer be on stage. He thinks Mary should accept her limitations and live a more subdued life.
Turning Point: Robert's conflict with Mary intensifies when she insists on continuing her career despite her accident, which he sees as reckless and dangerous.
Midpoint: Robert discovers Mary’s plan to create the "Marlene program" with the elderly and children. This revelation makes him realize that Mary is determined to stay active, leading him to attempt more direct intervention.
Turning Point: Robert's attempts to control and protect Mary clash directly with her growing determination to perform. His efforts to convince her to retire escalate, causing friction between them.
Dilemma: Robert faces a choice between supporting his mother's passion, which he believes is dangerous, or continuing to protect her in a way that undermines her independence and happiness.
Major Conflict: Robert confronts Mary in a heated argument, where he must decide whether to let her follow her dreams or continue to impose his will on her, risking their relationship.
Ending: Robert ultimately accepts Mary’s need for independence and self-expression. He learns to support her endeavors, recognizing that allowing her to pursue her passion is a form of love and respect, even if it means risking her physical well-being.

Story Structure Recap:
Beginning: Mary as a glamorous singer clinging to her youthful image with the mantra “Youth is the key to success and relevance.”
Inciting Incident: Mary breaks her hip after falling off the stage.
Turning Point 1: Mary has to participate in the book buddies program to be able to rehearse.
Act 2: Robert pressures Mary to retire from the stage to age gracefully.
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Vince searches for a younger performer to replace Mary.
Act 3: Mary comes up with the “Marlene program” to reinvent herself.
Turning Point 3: A journalist hired by Dieter writes a negative review of Mary’s performance.
4th act Climax: Mary has to decide whether to perform without her equipment or not at all, symbolizing her struggle between old and new self.
Resolution: On stage, Mary embraces her age and inner child, performing authentically and breaking free from her old mantra.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Madeleind Gentinetta.

[Bob Creager]

Bob Creager’s Character Structure
VISION: As a screenwriter, I aspire to craft highly unique, high-concept stories that intrigue from the first glance and reach an A-list storytelling level at my own pace.
What I learned: I had to combine all of my character profile inputs and then get AI to compress them into a more manageable package before running this prompt. It worked amazingly well. I can see the foundation for a very decent outline.
Character Journeys:
Nicholas Samichlaus
Beginning: Nicholas is the charming but reclusive Santa Claus figure who is also a cursed, immortal vampire plagued by bloodlust.
Inciting Incident: Interpol agent Isabella arrives to investigate the "12 Days of Christmas" vampire attacks committed by Nicholas due to his bloodlust.
Turning Point 1: Despite his dual vampire/Santa nature, Nicholas feels an undeniable romantic connection to Isabella as she unknowingly investigates him.
Act 2: Struggling between his Santa persona and vampiric urges, Nicholas continues his deception while Eirlys warns this path will lead to tragedy.
Turning Point 2: Just as Nicholas and Isabella's feelings grow, Kozlov exposes that Nicholas is the killer vampire she hunts, though his Santa identity remains secret.
Act 3: Shaken by Isabella's mission to eliminate him, Nicholas considers confessing he is also Santa Claus, before Kozlov horrifically reveals just his vampirism.
Turning Point 3: Kozlov's revelation of Nicholas' vampire nature shatters Isabella's feelings. She is unaware he is also Santa as he prepares to battle Kozlov.
Act 4 Climax: Battling Kozlov on Epiphany Eve, Nicholas channels festive Christmas magic fused with his vampiric abilities.
Resolution: Breaking Kozlov's curse, Nicholas finally reveals to Isabella that he is the true Santa Claus, embracing his calling as the protective Santa figure with her.
Agent Isabella Clarke
Beginning: A determined Interpol agent haunted by supernatural tragedy in her childhood. She is cynical about Christmas.
Inciting Incident: Isabella arrives to investigate the deadly "12 Days" vampire attacks.
Turning Point 1: Isabella feels an inexplicable romantic spark with Nicholas, whom she believes is just a toy designer, even as she pursues him as a suspect.
Act 2: As feelings grow, Isabella remains oblivious to Nicholas' attempts to deceive her with his supposed toy designer persona.
Turning Point 2: Just as Isabella and Nicholas connect, she learns he is the killer vampire, and shockingly, her orders are to eliminate him.
Act 3: Determined to follow her duty, Isabella prepares to take down the vampire Nicholas, until Kozlov horrifically exposes more about his true nature first.
Turning Point 3: Kozlov's reveal of Nicholas' monstrosity as a vampire shatters Isabella's feelings for him and belief in Santa/Christmas.
Act 4 Climax: During the battle against Kozlov, Isabella must decide if she can overcome her hatred to spare the vampire Nicholas.
Resolution: Seeing Nicholas break his curse through an act of selfless love reveals he is the real Santa Claus, restoring Isabella's childlike wonder. She chooses to be with the human-protecting Santa.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Bob Creager.

[David Zelitzky]

David Z's Character Structure
Vision:
I am an interesting, dependable, successful writer that people love to work with.
What I learned from doing this assignment is when you have all these foundation exercises in place the script is mostly done when you sit down to write it!

GENRE: HORROR – Hell’s Diner
Character Journey for Tessa (Protagonist)
Beginning:
Starting Point: Tessa begins as a determined and principled young woman. She has sworn to stay clean and protect her brother, Chris, from the devastating effects of Devil Dust. She is focused on maintaining a healthy lifestyle and escaping the toxic environment of their small town.
Turning Point:
Twist 1: Tessa is afraid that Chris will be seduced by the new drug killing kids in this godforsaken town. She realizes her brother is in immediate danger, and her current approach isn't enough to save him.
Midpoint:

Twist 2: Tessa has suspicions about Mick and sees how people are dying around him.
Turning Point: Tessa discovers Chris has overdosed and they call 911 to rescue him.

Twist 3: The paramedics are killed. They're alone. Tessa hears Chris. She knows she's the only one that can help. This twist forces Tessa to make even riskier moves to protect her brother.
Dilemma:

Two Unacceptable Choices: Tessa faces an agonizing choice: she can follow Chris down the darkest path to rescue him, or abandon her brother to save herself. Both choices seem equally devastating.
Major Conflict:

Ultimate Conflict: Tessa is consumed by Devil Dust and now she must navigate through the darkness, facing physical and moral dangers, to rescue her brother. Reality is twisted. Her visions of herself dying. Emaciated. Chris refuses help. He's not himself. This ultimate confrontation forces her to rely on all her newfound skills and courage.
Ending:

World Changed: Tessa successfully rescues Chris but not without significant sacrifice. She is left deeply scarred by the ordeal. Tessa evolves into a courageous and selfless protector, no longer just focused on survival but on creating a safer world for her brother. Her actions have changed the town's trajectory, offering hope where there was once despair.

Character Journey for Mick (Antagonist)
Beginning:
Starting Point: Mick starts as a charismatic yet ruthless young man, driven by the trauma of his abusive childhood. His ambition is fueled by a promise from the drug lord that he will become famous or be killed if he fails to get everyone hooked or eliminate them.
Turning Point:

Twist 1: Mick sees an opportunity in Chris, recognizing his vulnerability and need for acceptance. By coming on to Chris and getting him hooked, Mick aims to solidify his position within the drug trade, thinking this will secure his future as a celebrity and fulfill the drug lord's demands.
Midpoint:

Twist 2: Mick’s relationship with Tessa is falling apart when she realizes Mick's involvement in the drug trade. His initial confidence wavers as he realizes she might be a significant threat to his plans.
Turning Point:

Twist 3: Mick realizes Tessa might die and is locked in his dilemma of his future as a star or killing everyone who has ever meant anything to him. Mick’s desperation and allegiance highlights the depth of his ruthlessness.
Dilemma:

Two Unacceptable Choices: Mick is faced with a dilemma: he can either eliminate Tessa and Chris to secure his position, which would further erode his already fragile humanity, or he can risk his life by defying the drug lord’s orders to save them, a move that could lead to his own death.
Major Conflict:

Ultimate Conflict: Mick is forced into a direct confrontation with Tessa. His internal conflict between his humanity and ambition peaks during a brutal encounter where he must decide whether to kill Tessa or try to rescue her by shooting up and risking his own life.
Ending:

World Changed: Mick’s ambition leads to his downfall. During the confrontation, he is mortally wounded. In his final moments, he realizes the futility of his pursuits and the damage caused by his actions. His death dismantles the drug operation, indirectly aiding Tessa’s efforts. Mick's end serves as a tragic reminder of the destructive power of unchecked ambition and unresolved trauma AND HOW DRUGS ALWAYS END IN DEATH!

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  David Zelitzky.

[Elle Tracy]

ET’s characters’ journeys

Vision: To be recognized for my best work, even with money.

From this lesson, I learned that a character’s journey can help structure the script in ways that give the story engagement power and eliminate dry, dull stretches.

GENRE: dRAMS

TITLE: Senior STEAM

CONCEPT: How can residents of senior community work with STEAM students from a neighboring middle-school, and learn to collaborate with them?

Bee Finch

-Beginning-: Bee Finch is a retired mechanical engineer, burdened by the humiliation of being fired and blackballed from her previous job. She starts off hesitant and unsure of herself, mocked by STEAM students, feeling disconnected and disrespected.

-Turning Point-: Bee’s life takes a turn when the municipality announces an art project. Although initially struggling to find interest among the seniors, she finds personal reward in the brainstorming session, rekindling her passion and sense of purpose.

-Midpoint-: Bee’s work attracts Tyler Wilson III, who is genuinely interested in mechanical engineering. She discovers he is the grandson of the man who ruined her career but decides to withhold this information, creating an inner conflict.

-Turning Point-: The machine they are building gets destroyed in a windstorm, and Tyler’s grandfather admits to blackballing Bee. This revelation, combined with the stress, causes Bee to have a minor stroke, pushing her to confront her past more directly.

-Dilemma-: Bee must decide whether to continue working with Tyler and face the man who wronged her or give up on the project, losing the chance to redeem her career and her self-worth. Both choices are painful, but she stands to lose her newfound confidence and respect.

-Major Conflict-: Bee and Tyler confront Tyler’s grandfather, addressing the past wrongs and working through their personal conflicts. This confrontation is crucial for Bee’s emotional closure and professional redemption.

-Ending-: Bee’s world changes as she successfully collaborates with Tyler and the seniors to build a simpler machine. She gains mutual respect and designs a winning robot for Tyler’s contest, reaffirming her competence and regaining her dignity.

Tyler Wilson III

-Beginning-: Tyler is a curious and enthusiastic STEAM student but feels disconnected from the seniors and the project due to his grandfather’s influence and the generational gap.

-Turning Point-: Tyler becomes intrigued by Bee’s mechanical skills and decides to engage with her, despite his peers’ resistance and his grandfather’s warnings.

-Midpoint-: He forms a connection with Bee, learning and growing under her guidance. When he discovers his grandfather’s role in her past, he is torn between family loyalty and his respect for Bee.

-Turning Point-: The destruction of the machine and Bee’s hospitalization make Tyler realize the seriousness of his grandfather’s actions. He faces a moral crisis, questioning his grandfather’s integrity.

-Dilemma-: Tyler must choose between siding with his grandfather or standing up for Bee, risking his family relationship. Both choices have significant emotional consequences.

-Major Conflict-: Tyler decides to confront his grandfather with Bee, seeking to resolve the misunderstanding and clear Bee’s name. This confrontation tests his courage and values.

-Ending-: Tyler’s world changes as he builds a simpler machine with Bee and the seniors. Winning the robotics contest signifies his growth, maturity, and the strength of his new bond with Bee, bridging the generational divide.

[Monica Arisman]

Subject: Monica’s Character Structure

VISION: I am a very successful screenwriter who has had multiple movies made.

What I learned from doing this assignment is to make sure the main characters are always in crisis of some sort.

2. Start with the Protagonist and your source material. Create a beginning, middle, and end of the character’s story.

3. Add the rest of the structure to the characters in the script. Try to get to the point as we’ve done in the Iron Man example above.

EMILY DAVIS, PROTAGONIST

• Beginning: It’s the Christmas season. Emily Davis is introduced as a struggling writer as she battles writer’s block and financial struggles while attempting to write her novel, which she hopes will be her big break. She’s trapped working odd jobs to make ends meet but they’re draining her spirit. Emily decides to end it all as the struggle is overwhelming. On Christmas Eve she sets down a bottle of vodka and a bottle of painkillers.

• Inciting Incident: Instead of dying, she has a near-death experience. In the After-Life she meets God who shows her a mysterious library filled with ancient typewriters and books. This is God’s library and Emily has been chosen to re-ignite spirituality on Earth through her writing. (NTO: God whispers something in her ear, just before she returns – this is the surprise!) But there’s a catch…God introduces her to Donahue, the Guardian of the Library.

• Turning Point 1: Emily wakes up in the hospital, her distraught brother by her side. He takes her home and gives her a puppy to help her recover. In her brother’s mansion, she starts experiencing strange phenomena starring the Guardian Donahue who shows her some stories that God wants Emily to write.

• Act 2:

o New plan: Emily reluctantly agrees to write the piece outlined by Donahue. Leaves her alone to work on the article. Once Donahue vanishes, Azazel appears to tell her he has been sent to help her.

o Plan in action: During her visions, Emily explores the library and meets forgotten characters, feeling a sense of belonging. She delves deeper into her writing but struggles with doubts about her abilities and the true relationship between Donahue and Azazel.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Emily struggles with the task and grapples with doubts, torn between fulfilling Donahue's instructions and the temptations offered by Azazel. And, realizes Donahue and Azazel are both in it together. To outwit them, Emily must explore deeper into the Library. And, discovers the dream archive that they didn’t even know about.

• Act 3:

o Re-think Everything: Emily faces increasing pressure from Donahue and realizes the dangerous price of unlocking the library's secrets. She confronts Azazel and rejects his sexual overtures. Azazel grabs the puppy and threatens to kill it. Emily finds her voice, hurts Azazel, and saves her puppy.

o New Plan: Emily must make a life-altering choice to determine the outcome of the cosmic battle. She confronts both Donahue and a weakened Azazel in a climactic showdown, using her storytelling abilities.

• Turning Point 3: Emily writes the best story of her life based on a dream she found in the archives. But Azazel attempts to subvert Emily's written piece, twisting its message to serve his own agenda and sow chaos among humanity. Emily finds out and destroys Azazel. One down.

• Act 4:

o New Plan: Emily confronts Donahue. Tells him she destroyed Azazel. In a climactic showdown, using her storytelling abilities to protect the dream archive and humanity, Emily defeats Donahue.

o Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict: Emily emerges victorious but changed, having embraced her role as a storyteller and found purpose in her writing. She witnesses the consequences of Donahue and Azazel's manipulation and continues her journey toward enlightenment, ready to face future challenges.

• Resolution: God visits Emily and thanks her for her service. Gives her a hug and a kiss to continue writing, tipping the scales in favor of the Divine. Emily continues her journey with newfound determination and understanding.

DONAHUE, THE GUARDIAN, ANTAGONIST

• Beginning: Donahue, an Ancient Supernatural being, and Guardian of God’s Library, is battling an Ancient Evil who has taken up residence in the far reaches of the Library when he is summonsed to the Gates. Another Transient (A Near-Death Experiencer.) is incoming. Donahue knows God doesn’t trust him.

• Inciting Incident: God introduces Donahue to Emily, a writer. Donahue senses that God is going to use Emily to re-ignite spirituality in humanity. And, God expects Donahue to guide Emily.

• Turning Point 1: Donahue begins to visit Emily in visions. Giving her a tour of the Library and showing her how to access the Library on her own.

• Act 2:

o New Plan: Donahue shows Emily the first article outline that God wants her to write, with a few points Donahue has input himself. He leaves her to it and goes in search of Azazel to recommence their battle. When he reaches their battlefield, he realizes Azazel has introduced himself to Emily.

o Plan in Action: Donahue races back to Emily. He cannot lose another writer to the Ancient Evil that pervades the Library. But when he reaches Emily, she is deep in meditation and Azazel is nowhere to be found. Maybe he’s imagining things!

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Donahue finds Azazel. If he loses another writer, God could appoint the Archangel Jophiel, the archangel of creativity. Donahue must defeat Azazel before the illusion he has created to shield God from the truth, fails. But Azazel outlines a plan to Donahue where Emily could be used to get what they both want – control of the After-Life.

• Act 3:

o Re-think Everything: Donahue visits Emily with the second outline only to discover she hasn’t published the first article. He demands to know where the first article is. Emily shows him the article. But it is completely different than what was outlined. Emily defends her story saying that is what her visions have created. Donahue loses it and tells her to stick to the plan.

o New Plan: Maybe Azazel is right. Maybe it’s time to team up instead of fighting for control of the After-Life. But when he finds Azazel, Azazel is wounded. And in a weakened state. Discover that it was Emily who damaged Azazel because she was protecting her puppy. Donahue decides that Azazel can be used to do Donahue’s bidding because of his weakened state.

• Turning Point 3: With this new plan in mind, Donahue visits Azazel. Only to discover he has ceased to exist. Emily was his downfall. Donahue now knows how dangerous Emily is. If she can destroy an Ancient Evil that has been plaguing the After-Life for eons, what could she do to Donahue?

• Act 4:

o New Plan: Donahue visits Emily. He wants to know how she, a mere mortal, could defeat Azazel.

o Climax Expression of the Ultimate Conflict: Emily shows him by weaving a story in the celestial language – the language of creation. A primordial language with the ability to heal or destroy. Donahue wondered where she found that language.

• Resolution: Donahue disintegrates before Emily’s eyes. She looks around and sees a large beautiful Angel, the ArchAngel Jophiel. Now the rescue of humanity can begin in earnest.

AZAZEL, CONNECTING CHARACTER, THE ANCIENT EVIL

• Beginning: Azazel, an Ancient Evil who has taken up residence in the far reaches of God’s Library, battles Donahue, an Ancient Supernatural being. The battle is paused when Donahue is summoned to the Gates. Azazel trails behind to discover what is happening.

• Inciting Incident: Azazel, hides behind a pillar as God and Donahue comfort the Transient. They will use the Transient to bring spirituality back to that useless Earth civilization. He can work with that.

• Turning Point 1: Azazel returns to his liar. Finds the book he’s looking for and starts to weave a story that will use this Emily to his advantage in taking over the After-Life.

• Act 2: Azazel introduces himself to Emily. Tells her he’s come to help her write her article and has a few suggestions.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Azazel seeks Donahue out calling a truce. He outlines a plan to Donahue where Emily could be used to get what they both want – control of the After-Life.

• Act 3: Azazel appears to Emily. Explains to her that having sex with him will give her unimaginable powers. Emily rejects his sexual overtures. Azazel grabs her puppy and starts to kill it.

• Turning Point 3: Azazel inhales the puppy’s essence.

• Act 4 Climax: Emily calms herself and repeats a spell in the celestial language.

• Resolution: Azazel falls dead. The puppy is saved.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 3 weeks ago by  Monica Arisman. Reason: Formatting

[Pam Ewing]

Pam’s Character Structure
Vision: Become a Writing Athlete
What I’ve learned: I find that I am not stressing about how good it is because I am not expecting things to be good yet. Also, I tend to like what I create and only find some embellishments in the AI work. That is confidence building.

Maia’s Journey
• Beginning – On top to humiliated to death
• Middle – relaxing isn’t working and she’s starting to come back to life
• End – full throttle confidence and new goals
Maia’s Full Journey
• Beginning: Managing a corporate takeover
• Inciting Incident: but gets taken over and kicked out instead
• Turning Point 1: Her friend takes her to an exclusive spa resort to relax
• Act 2: She can’t get into the spa treatments/meets a guy
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: starts to investigate things that don’t add up at the spa
• Act 3: fights to expose spa threatens her life
• Turning Point 3: confronts Dr. Kari in a cat and mouse game which threatens her friend Ollie as well
• Act 4 Climax: wins over Dr. Kari
• Resolution: She got her leadership mojo back/has won over Dr. Jeremy/considers taking over the spa

Dr. Kari’s Journey
• Beginning – injured then created healing protocol which she built into a spa resort
• Middle – has kept the spa’s deadly secrets until Maia’s arrival
• End – faces off with Maia in a deadly match and loses.
Dr. Kari’s Full Journey
• Beginning: nearly dies in disfiguring accident
• Inciting Incident: creates protocol that cures her
• Turning Point 1: profits from deadly spa that keeps her in tissue and creates profit
• Act 2: Maia has come to the spa and Dr. Kari sees her as a rival
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Dr. Kari realizes that Dr. Jeremy likes Maia so it is game on
• Act 3: Dr. Kari tries to engineer ways to overcome Maia
• Turning Point 3: Dr. Kari endangers Maia’s friend, Ollie, and her issues with Maia become physical
• Act 4 Climax: Dr. Kari fights Maia and loses
• Resolution: Dr. Kari had left a trap to get Maia but even in death her trap fails and Maia takes of Dr. Kari’s work

[James Hernandez]

James’ Character Structure

My Vision: I am a great writer who is recognized by the industry as an exceptional collaborator able to elevate any project into production and have maximum success.

What I learned from doing this assignment is…my story is becoming more fleshed out as the storylines of not only my lead characters are surfacing due to the AI prompt’s assistance. Now the specific scenes are emerging which lets me see with more clarity the story as a whole.

Ethan’s Character Structure:
• Beginning: Ethan is introduced as a bit awkward, analytical, and reserved.
• Inciting Incident: Joey enters Ethan’s life and becomes his algorithm chief.
• Turning Point 1: Ethan begins to question the authenticity of the connections he's making online, but believes he may have a future with Lily.
• Act 2: Ethan seeks help from Joey to manage his online dating chaos.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Ethan's online escapades catch the attention of Max, an internet troll and Lily’s ex, who launches a smear campaign against him.
• Act 3: Ethan must confront Max and expose his deception to win Lily's heart.
• Turning Point 3: Lily breaks away from Ethan due to his supposed new online sexually charged persona.
• Act 4 Climax: Ethan confronts Max and exposes his manipulation, proving his love for Lily is genuine.
• Resolution: Ethan and Lily embark on a genuine relationship, free from Max's influence.

Lily’s Character Structure:
• Beginning: Lily’s been in a toxic relationship with Max.
• Inciting Incident: Lily meets Ethan and they gel immediately.
• Turning Point 1: Max creeps his way back into Lily’s life.
• Act 2: Lily decides Ethan is better for her than Max.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Lily catches Ethan in a compromising position with Joey.
• Act 3: Lily reevaluates her life as all options appear dire for her love life.
• Turning Point 3: Max is determined to ruin Lily’s chances with Ethan.
• Act 4 Climax: Lily has Ethan prove his genuine affection to her.
• Resolution: Ethan and Lily embark on a genuine relationship, free from Max's influence.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  James Hernandez.

[David Wickenden]

David Wickenden Character Journey Structure
Assignment #1 – Character Journey Structure
Vision: I become a writer that the industry respects and wants to work with and it offers me challenges that helps me to continue to grow and be successful.
“What I learned from doing this assignment is…?”
That both the antagonist and the protagonist have structured journeys.
State-To-Activity empowerment process.
• State: I am absolutely capable…
• Activity: …of creating great Character Structures.
Protagonist – Eliza Blackwood
• Beginning: As a child playing with magic, Eliza causes her mother to disappear into an unknown realm.
• Inciting Incident: Years later, Eliza and her siblings enter an ancient family estate that they have inherited.
• Turning Point 1: They are attacked by a group of ghosts who are pushed back by Silas Hawthorne and his people.
• Act 2: Eliza researches the history of the family to understand why the estate is haunted.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: She finds that Silas’s ancestors had killed the Blackthorne witches during the 1700s in an attempt to steal their magic.
• Act 3: Hawthorne captures Eliza’s brother and sister and plans to sacrifice them in the ceremony at midnight.
• Turning Point 3: The ghosts convince Eliza to use her latent magic powers to defeat Silas and his cult with the help of the ghosts.
• Act 4 Climax: Massive fight ensues. Eliza’s magic, with the help of the ghost and the added power of Eliza’s mother wins the day.
• Resolution: The ghosts are freed from the curse and Eliza begins the hunt for her mother.

Antagonist – Silas Hawthorne
• Beginning: We don’t see this, but Silas has been plotting to sacrifice the blackwood children in an attempt to gain supernatural powers.
• Inciting Incident: Silas and his cult members appear when the ghosts are attacking Eliza and her family.
• Turning Point 1: He explains that his family has always been the Blackwood estate caretakers and has been fighting the evil ghosts of dead witches.
• Act 2:
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint:
• Act 3:
• Turning Point 3: Eliza finds that Silas has kidnapped her brother and stops him from taking Elenor, Eliza’s sister.
• Act 4 Climax: Silas and his people try to sacrifice the Blackwood children in a ceremony that will gain him the powers of the dead witches.
• Resolution: He loses to Eliza and is pushed into a realm full of demons.

IA INPUT
Character Journey: Eliza Blackwood
Beginning
• Start: Eliza begins as a rational, skeptical individual who dismisses anything supernatural. She is protective of her siblings and harbors a deep-seated guilt over her mother's disappearance.
Turning Point
• Twist: The Blackwood siblings inherit the family estate and are attacked by ghosts. Silas and his cult intervene, and Eliza reluctantly agrees to help the cult in their battle against the supernatural forces.
Midpoint
• Twist: Eliza uncovers the shocking truth that the witches, who are now ghosts, are her ancestors who were brutally murdered by the same cult. This revelation changes her understanding of the conflict and her role in it.
Turning Point
• Twist: Eliza attempts to use ancient spells to protect her family but fails because the spells require her blood. Her brother is struck down, and her sister is sucked into a void, pushing Eliza to make a desperate choice.
Dilemma
• Conflict: Eliza faces the choice of embracing her supernatural legacy and using her blood to empower the spells, or continuing to deny her role in her mother's disappearance and risk losing her siblings.
Major Conflict
• Ultimate Conflict: Eliza offers her blood, gaining the power of her ancestors. She leads the final battle against Silas and the cult, using her newfound abilities to fight and defeat them.
Ending
• Changed World: Eliza triumphs over the cult and helps the ghosts move on to the afterlife. She resolves to embrace her supernatural heritage and vows to continue her search for her mother, accepting the responsibility and power that comes with her legacy.
________________________________________
Character Journey: Silas Hawthorne
Beginning
• Start: Silas is a charismatic and manipulative cult leader, seemingly dedicated to protecting the Blackwoods but secretly plotting to use them to gain power.
Turning Point
• Twist: After saving the Blackwood siblings from a ghost attack, Silas convinces them to join forces, hiding his true intentions and using their trust to further his own goals.
Midpoint
• Twist: Silas's facade begins to crack as Eliza discovers the truth about their ancestors. His plans are threatened, and he becomes more desperate to maintain control and achieve his power-hungry goals.
Turning Point
• Twist: Silas's scheme faces a major setback when Eliza refuses him entry to the estate and attempts to use the spells against him. He retaliates by striking down her brother and creating chaos, exposing his true nature.
Dilemma
• Conflict: Silas must choose between continuing his ruthless pursuit of power, risking complete failure, or retreating to preserve his influence over his remaining followers.
Major Conflict
• Ultimate Conflict: Silas engages in a final, desperate confrontation with Eliza, who now wields the power of her ancestors. His manipulations and deceptions are fully revealed, leading to his ultimate downfall.
Ending
• Changed World: Defeated by Eliza and the ghosts, Silas is either killed or banished from the realm of mortals. His cult disbands, and his quest for power ends in failure, leaving a legacy of destruction in his wake.
________________________________________
These character journeys align with the four-act structure of your horror/thriller screenplay, ensuring that both Eliza and Silas experience significant development and conflict throughout the story.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  David Wickenden.

[Linda Kish]

Linda’s Character Structure

My Vision is: I will do whatever it takes to be a sought-after profound writer who has many successful movies produced and an Oscar on the mantel.
What I learned is that the antagonists’ acts and turning points can be different and this process makes it much easier to see how they work with each other.

Joaquin – Protagonist Journey
• Beginning: Joaquin, a scout for the cartel, wants out, but must keep that to himself or he will be killed.
• Inciting Incident: The dying kingpin of the cartel summons Joaquin to his compound where he announces a brutal contest for his successor.
• Turning Point 1: Joaquin’s family is threatened by an anonymous competitor (Arturo).
• Act 2: He joins the competition but tries to navigate it without bloodshed, his way, not the cartel’s way.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Arturo has his daughter killed.
• Act 3: Joaquin kills the corrupt police officer who killed his daughter and goes on the offensive, the cartel way, to win and get revenge on Arturo.
• Turning Point 3: He is captured by US immigration and believed to be dead by the cartel.
• Act 4 Climax: At the crowning of the winner, Joaquin surprises everyone with evidence he killed the US Director of Border patrol. He’s announced the winner, which turns into a battle in which he kills all of his rivals, including Arturo.
• Resolution: Joaquin and his family are safe. Sets up a sequel where he and Maritza go after other cartels.

Arturo – Antagonist Journey
• Beginning: Arturo and Joaquin’s wife were engaged to be married when he started to engage in cartel violence. She broke up with him and married Joaquin.
• Inciting Incident: Joaquin was under the kingpin’s protection so Arturo couldn’t do anything about Joaquin, but now the kingpin is dying and he sees an opening.
• Turning Point 1: Arturo convinces the kingpin to bring Joaquin and his family to the compound to be with him until he dies. But his real motive is to prove to Camila that Joaquin is a violent man, and no better than he is. Once he does that, he can kill him.
• Act 2: He takes Joaquin under his wing, manipulating him, stalking his family.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Joaquin joins the competition.
• Act 3: Arturo pushes Joaquin to commit murder.
• Turning Point 3: He convinces Camila that Joaquin is dead and lures her back to him.
• Act 4 Climax: Joaquin is alive and wins the competition. He battles him to the death.
• Resolution: Arturo is dead.

[Jan Westbrook]

Jan’s 4 Act Character Structure

My Vision: I am a talented and strong writer with a unique voice, recognized by the movie industry with multiple screenplays produced.

What I learned from this assignment was aligning the two journeys exposed inconsistencies and helped fill in gaps of each journey. It also revealed a couple of points that needed either tightening up or discovered out right

Character: Emberleaf
Beginning: Emberleaf burdened with making a crucial decision, acknowledges the halo-moon cycle ending and its consequences at the secret queen’s council
Inciting Incident: gets dark magic used on her by a disguised Khyber-Ra and has the numinous amulet shattered stripping her of her magic
Turning Point 1: assembles the pixie alliance, queen’s council offers representative from each land to be a part of the alliance: Willowbreeze, Thornwhisper, Nightshade
Act 2: collects the first fragments, almost killed by a hideous creature and almost fatally wounded, but Nightshade saves her, using dark magic and is kicked out of the alliance, as the halo-moon begins to set
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: is separated from Willowbreeze and Thornwhisper and is captured by inhabitants of the forbidden forest and collects the last fragment of the numinous amulet
Act 3: is given over to the tribe of bartering beasts, caught by Khyber-Ra
Turning Point 3: makes the decision to save Willowbreeze and Thornwhisper over herself just as the moon-cycle ends
Act 4 Climax: Willowbreeze, Thornwhisper, Lightthistle and Nightshade free Emberleaf, and collect the numinous amulet, Emberleaf battles and defeats Khyber-Ra, as the halo-moon cycle ends, Emberleaf exiles Khyber-Ra to the forbidden wastelands
Resolution: shows leniency on Nightshade for practicing dark magic, he and Willowbreeze and Thornwhisper are part of her royal court. Emberleaf becomes a more confident leader, accepts the position of elder queen of the council

Character: Khyber-Ra
Beginning: exiled by Emberleaf for practicing dark magic
Inciting Incident: disguised as a magic trainer, reveals he is Khyber-Ra and enacts vengeance on Emberleaf, shattering the numinous amulet, stripping Emberleaf of her magic, leaving her defenseless and vulnerable
Turning Point 1: seizes control of Eveandor, enlists Nightshade, whom he secretly trained in dark magic, to bring him the numinous amulet fragments
Act 2: is beaten down by the inhabitants of the forbidden forest, makes a deal with the tribe of bartering beasts to get him Emberleaf
Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: captures Willowbreeze and Thornwhisper when they attempt to rescue Emberleaf, assembles the numinous amulet
Act 3: halo-moon cycle ends, declares himself king of Eveandor
Turning Point 3: has the numinous amulet stolen from him by Nightshade, loses his kingdom
Act 4 Climax: battles Emberleaf and is defeated as the halo-moon cycle ends
Resolution: has an exile spell cast on him, banishing him to the forbidden lands

I’m going to give you my [4-Act Structure] and [Character profiles] for my [Genre] feature screenplay that is about [concept].

Please map out a [character journey] for each character, knowing the protagonist journey will be across the entire story, but other characters may show up differently.

Character Journey =

Beginning: Where does the character start?
Turning Point: A twist that locks them into a conflict.
Midpoint: A twist that causes everything to change.
Turning Point: Another twist that takes them to the biggest conflict.
Dilemma: The character is faced with two equally unacceptable choices. They lose either way.
Major Conflict: The ultimate experience of this conflict.
Ending: Their world has changed.

Genre = Epic Quest Fantasy
Concept = If the halo-moon cycle ends before her pixie alliance restores Eveandor’s shattered numinous amulet, Emberleaf will be magicless, lose her queendom, and be forever vulnerable and defenseless
Character profiles =
Character: Name: Emberleaf
Role: Queen of Eveandor
Core Traits: Courageous, uncertain, resourceful, determined
Motivation: To regain her magic before the halo-moon cycle ends, to remain queen of Eveandor
Wound: Let her love interest, Khyber-Ra, take the blame for a creature she created by using forbidden dark magic, leading to his banishment from Eveandor
Character 5: Name: Khyber-Ra
Role: magic trainer and practice of Dark Magic
Core Traits: Manipulative, envious, charismatic, ruthless
Motivation: To punish Emberleaf for exiling him to the forbidden forests by seizing control of Eveandor and shattering the numinous amulet
Wound: betrayed Emberleaf by turning a pixie who was interested in her into a disfigured beast and banished it to the forbidden lands
4-Act Structure = Act 1: Old Ways

Opening:
Introduce Queen Emberleaf, burdened by leadership and emotionally detached.
Establish the threat of Khyber-Ra and the shattered numinous amulet.
Inciting Incident:
Khyber-Ra uses dark magic against Emberleaf, she exiles him but he, shatters the numinous amulet, and Emberleaf's vulnerability is highlighted as she loses her magic.
Turning Point:
Emberleaf reluctantly forms the pixie alliance to retrieve the shattered amulet pieces.
She begins to recognize the need for companionship and support and forms an alliance with Willowbreeze, Nightshade, and Thornwhisper in her quest.
Act 2: Transitioning to New Ways
4. New Plan:

The group embarks on their journey to find the amulet pieces, facing challenges and forging bonds.
Emberleaf starts to embrace empathy and teamwork, shifting away from her emotional detachment.
Plan in Action:
As they progress, Emberleaf's magic slowly returns with each recovered fragment, bolstering her confidence.
Tensions rise within the group, particularly with Nightshade's suspicious behavior.
Midpoint Turning Point:
Nightshade's betrayal is exposed colluding with Khyber-Ra when he gives him a piece of the numinous amulet.
Lightthistle councils Emberleaf and she exiles him from the alliance.
Nightshade captures Emberleaf when the alliance tries to get the piece back.
Act 3: New Ways
7. Rethink Everything:

The alliance is fractured and defeated. Khyber-Ra takes the nearly restored numinous amulet from Emberleaf, her magic vanishes and she is weak and defenseless against Khyber-Ra.
Thornwhisper and Willowbreeze find the last piece of the numinous amulet, but cannot collect it, they cannot touch it. They hide it and guard it with their life.
Nightshade learns that Khyber-Ra will not keep his promise to him, is caught trying to steal the numinous amulet, but he escapes.
Nightshade finds Thornwhisper and Willowbreeze and they reluctantly reunite. They find out Nightshade practices dark magic when he grabs the numinous amulet piece
Khyber-Ra reveals he let Nightshade go because he could not get the last piece of the numinous amulet from the realm it was in and he takes the piece from them, now the numinous amulet is restored

Turning Point/Major Shift:
Khyber-Ra is now the king of Eveandor and exiles Lightthistle.
Thornwhisper, Willowbreeze, and Nightshade launch a daring mission to save Emberleaf and retrieve the numinous amulet, but are caught and imprisoned along with Emberleaf.
Emberleaf is on the verge of death

New Plan:
Lightthistle councils Emberleaf to free herself.
In her weakened state, Emberleaf barely frees Thornwhisper, Willowbreeze, and Nightshade.
Act 4: Ultimate Expression of New Ways
10. Climax:

Thornwhisper, Willowbreeze, Nightshade and Lightthistle confront Khyber-Ra, Lightthistle gives her life to get the numinous amulet.
Thornwhisper, Willowbreeze, Nightshade, and Emberleaf, now with the amulet, they defeat Khyber-Ra in a climactic battle.

Resolution:

Emberleaf exiles Khyber-Ra. Emberleaf grants Nightshade leniency, showing her transformation to a more empathetic and confident queen.
Thornwhisper finds redemption, Willowbreeze learns to trust again, and are now part of Emberleaf’s royal court.
The restored numinous amulet symbolizes Emberleaf's newly found resilience and strength, shining brightly as a testament to her transformation.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  Jan Westbrook.

[Mary Spiers]

Mary’s Character Journey Structure
My vision: I am a leading creator of relatable family-friendly stories with compelling, authentic and unique characters.

What I learned from doing this assignment is that the character journeys are flowing step by step even though I feel I still need to develop my antagonist.

Ava Reynard
Beginning: Ava starts as a talented but emotionally disconnected musician who views her synesthesia as a curse following a lightning strike.
Turning Point: After the lightning incident, she seeks answers at a wilderness retreat to understand and cope with her altered perception, encountering Diana.
Midpoint: Ava believes she's mastering her synesthetic abilities but faces a setback when she learns that her successes are manipulated by Silas Thorn.
Turning Point: After discovering Silas has interfered with Diana and learning about their familial ties, Ava renews her resolve to master her abilities and confront Silas.
Dilemma: Torn between fleeing from Silas’s influence and risking herself to rescue Diana and face the curse directly.
Major Conflict: Ava confronts Silas in a dramatic showdown, using her full mastery of synesthesia to counteract his manipulations.
Ending: Ava rescues Diana, breaks the family curse, and accepts her synesthesia as a gift, profoundly altering her understanding and acceptance of herself.
Diana Wildroot
Beginning: Diana is introduced as a wise mentor, at first not knowing her deeper connection as Ava's grandmother, guiding Ava through the complexities of her new abilities.
Turning Point: Diana's mentoring turns into a deeper connection when she discovers her familial ties to Ava, embedding personal stakes into their journey.
Midpoint: Her disappearance and involvement with Silas serves as a crucial plot twist that pushes Ava into deeper self-reliance and tests Diana's teachings.
Turning Point: Diana admits to being Ava’s grandmother and is more deeply involved in the family's mystical secrets and the curse, challenging Ava's trust.
Dilemma: Diana struggles with revealing the full extent of the curse and her role in it, knowing it could either drive Ava away or draw her deeper into danger.
Major Conflict: Diana's wisdom and secrets are pivotal in the final confrontation with Silas as she supports Ava's transformation and battle.
Ending: Reunited with Ava, Diana sees the fruition of her mentorship and the breaking of the curse, reinforcing her values and rectifying her past mistakes.
Silas Thorn
Beginning: Introduced as a charismatic leader with a radical vision for humanity’s return to nature, hiding his manipulative intentions.
Turning Point: His interest in Ava grows as he sees her unique abilities as a threat to his control, leading to his decision to deceive her and interfere with Diana.
Midpoint: Silas’s true nature and intentions are revealed to Ava, escalating the stakes of their conflict.
Turning Point: Silas prepares for the final confrontation, believing he can use Ava’s abilities to achieve his ultimate goal.
Dilemma: Silas faces the moral quandary of his radical actions — continue his destructive path for 'greater good' or concede to Ava’s opposing view of harmony and healing.
Major Conflict: His showdown with Ava tests his beliefs and methods, pitting his fanaticism against her balanced approach to nature and synesthesia.
Ending: Defeated by Ava, Silas's vision is discredited. His failure forces him to confront the flaws in his ideology and the consequences of his actions.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  Mary Spiers.
• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  Mary Spiers.

[Diane Denham]

Bonnie’s Vision for the Future: I want to improve my writing skills by 200% and sell at least one script between 2024 and 2025.
What I learned from doing this assignment is a better appreciation for the swift organizational efficiency AI demonstrates when I feed it the prompts along with inputting the story and characters I have created so far.

Bonnie’s Character Structure
Protagonist: Xiola
Beginning: Xiola starts as a confident, arrogant secret agent time traveler from future Earth, harboring a covert compassion. She is emotionally immature and driven by the need to prove herself due to the wound of her mother’s disappearance, which she feels responsible for.
Turning Point: Xiola is sent back to the present to investigate the mysterious anomaly caused by the ET travel agents' malfunction, locking her into a complex conflict when her own high-tech device breaks.
Midpoint: Xiola and Zartuuf, despite their initial antagonism and attraction-repulsion, succumb to their mutual attraction and have a moment of intimacy, causing everything to change in their dynamics and focus.
Turning Point: Xiola discovers evidence that her black ops organization is collaborating with an ET conglomerate to control interdimensional travel, realizing that her mission is more complex and personal than she initially thought.
Dilemma: Xiola must choose between exposing her mother’s role in the ET confederation's plans or saving her, a choice that challenges her core values of excellence and self-reliance.
Major Conflict: Xiola, along with Zartuuf and Quarky, faces the ultimate challenge of revealing the truth and enlisting the help of everyone on the plane to defeat those responsible for the malfunction.
Ending: Xiola emerges as a more mature, cooperative, and compassionate leader, having resolved her internal conflicts and reconnected with her past and family.

Antagonist: Zartuuf
Beginning: Zartuuf starts as a charismatic, self-centered ET Travel Agent, motivated by the desire to monopolize the multidimensional travel industry and battling feelings of unworthiness.
Turning Point: The malfunction propels Zartuuf and his tourists onto a commercial airline mid-flight, forcing him into a situation where his lies and manipulations are put to the test.
Midpoint: After succumbing to his attraction to Xiola and losing his ET pet, Zartuuf’s plans start to unravel, and he begins to show signs of genuine vulnerability and empathy.
Turning Point: Zartuuf discovers that the ET confederation has been manipulating him, realizing that his ambition has been used against him and that he must choose between self-preservation and doing what’s right.
Dilemma: Zartuuf must decide whether to overcome his fears and help Xiola and Quarky expose the conspiracy, sacrificing his dream, or retreat and live with his cowardice.
Major Conflict: Zartuuf joins forces with Xiola and Quarky to reveal the truth, risking everything to rectify the malfunction and defeat the conspirators.
Ending: Zartuuf becomes a courageous, empathetic character, having faced his flaws and taken risks to help others, thereby earning a newfound sense of worth and integrity.
Triangle Character: Quarky
Beginning: Quarky starts as an anxious, bumbling ET Tourist with special abilities, struggling with self-doubt, loneliness, and the desire for acceptance.
Turning Point: The malfunction that throws Quarky into a commercial airline mid-flight pushes him into a new environment where he must adapt and find his place.
Midpoint: Quarky begins to embrace his role as a trickster and helper, using his abilities to fix anomalies and assist Xiola and Zartuuf, gaining confidence in the process.
Turning Point: Quarky discovers that Xiola is his half-sister and that they share a connection through their mother, adding a personal layer to his involvement in resolving the mysterious anomaly.
Dilemma: Quarky must choose whether to reveal his familial connection to Xiola or keep it hidden, fearing the consequences of either choice on their mission and relationship.
Major Conflict: Quarky actively helps Xiola and Zartuuf to uncover the conspiracy and fix the malfunction, using his abilities and emotional intelligence to bring the team together.
Ending: Quarky finds acceptance and purpose, having grown from an anxious outcast to a vital, confident member of the team, and possibly revealing his connection to Xiola.

[Kathryn Gould]

I choose to be a highly creative and energized writer who makes big movies and loves her life working with the most creative people in the world.

What I learned: I came up with some interesting new plot points by looking at the antagonist’s journey on its own.

2. Start with the Protagonist and your source material. Create a beginning, middle, and end of the character’s story.

3. Add the rest of the structure to the characters to the script. Try to get to the point as we’ve done in the Iron Man example above.

• Beginning: Using his biohacking skills clandestinely, Japheth treats his sister and improves his and his friends’ physical capabilities.

• Inciting Incident: He discovers strange things about the latest Medinano biotech and goes to Dr. Bennett, who tells him to drop it.

• Turning Point 1: Unable to drop it, he digs into the code and realizes that it’s made for mind control, Medinano is going to be able to control anyone who has this biotech. He goes back to Bennett hoping to convince her to help him go public, but she is missing and Medinano investigators accuse him and his friends of industrial espionage. They barely escape.

• Act 2: They use their enhancements to flee and hide, meanwhile wondering if they’ve been betrayed by Dr. Bennett. They decide to hunt her down.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: They discover that in fact she is working on a much more sinister plan, unleashing a virus that will kill anyone with the latest biotech. This time they barely escape her thugs.

• Act 3: Japheth is tempted to let Dr. Bennett’s plan unfold, letting millions die – but making a better world for himself and the people he cares about. With Nell’s help he decides to try to stop it and plan to infiltrate Medinano’s facility.

• Turning Point 3: They are betrayed by one of their own and captured.

• Act 4 Climax: As they’re about to have all their enhancements taken away, Dr. Bennett releases the virus, allowing them to escape. They give up their chance to get away and decide to help Medinano stop the virus. They do so, but are taken captive again.

• Resolution: They were able to broadcast the truth to the world, and the public outcry results in their release and the beginning of societal transformation, which Japheth and Nell will help to lead.

4. Repeat the process with your Antagonist.

• Beginning: She runs a free clinic that supposedly uses traditional medicine, but secretly she pirates Medinano biotech to treat her sickest clients.

• Inciting Incident: She is discovered, fired, and stripped of her medical license. Her wife, with her support, decides to stay in the Uppers with their daughter. They used to visit but as the child grew, she became resentful of Dr. Bennett’s choices that led to their separation, and now they’re estranged. She has grandchildren she has never met.

• Turning Point 1: She discovers the mind control tech same time as Japheth. Decides she has to put a stop to it.

• Act 2: She goes underground with Dr. Kuthrapali to develop the virus.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Japheth finds her and learns of her plan. She decides to take Japheth and friends hostage. When that fails, she sends info about them to Medinano, framing them as terrorists.

• Act 3: She continues developing her virus, testing it on a Medinano operative she has captured.

• Turning Point 3: She releases the virus, paying her family a visit to surreptitiously give them a cure.

• Act 4 Climax: As Japheth and friends battle to stop the virus, he realizes that she wouldn’t let her family die and tips off authorities. She’s arrested and they are able to figure out how to stop the virus from the tech she has given to her family.

• Resolution: Dr. Bennett is in prison for the rest of her life.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 2 weeks ago by  Kathryn Gould.

[Brandi Hoffman]

Brandi’s Character Structure:

Brandi’s vision: I want the creative freedom to attract an audience that is passionate about my films, and regularly deliver films that are commercially successful and leave my audience thrilled and eager for the next.

What I learned from doing this assignment: My protagonist’s journey mirrors my antagonist’s journey, although the timeline is different. The antagonist journey starts well before the protagonist’s one. Not all of the antagonist’s journey will appear in the feature, but they both have to end at the same time.

Mei Chang (protagonist)

Beginning: Mei’s mom has her life planned out for her – science degree, getting marriage, kids – and tries to force her into a mold. Since this life isn’t attractive at all, Mei lies and tells her that she’s in school and dating “nice” men in order to keep her family’s support.

Inciting Incident: Her ex-bf falls out of a prop box during her first magic show and it’s caught on video.

Turning Point 1: Because she’s so used to lying, she lies to the police about knowing him.

Act 2: The clock is ticking. The detective is going to find out she dated Chuck before he turned up in her prop box. She’s gotta find the murderer before she becomes a suspect. Mei breaks into her missing assistant’s apartment and finds plans for an illusion that’s been altered to injure the magician performing it.

Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: She asks other magicians about the illusion. Jerri lies and says she doesn’t know, but is later found dead in her own magical accident. Mei’s number is in her phone. Mei’s family sends her brother to keep an eye on her.

Act 3: Mei’s number is spoofed on Jerri’s phone, and Mei is brought in for questioning. She finds the missing assistant who tells her the altered plans are for William Henry’s show, and it’s not just to injure him, but kill him. And the culprit is his son, Buddy.

Turning Point 3: Buddy kidnaps Mei’s brother and uses him as bait to get the plans.

Act 4 Climax: Mei’s family switches out the sabotaged prop for a non altered one and Buddy is revealed as the culprit. Using another altered prop (with the assistance of William Henry), she catches Buddy before he escapes.
Resolution: Mei’s parents are unhappy that she lied, but are impressed with her quick thinking. Mei apologizes for all the lies, and they go forward with a new relationship.

Buddy Henry (antagonist)

Beginning: Buddy agrees to help his family expand his father’s career for a few years, turning him into the number one magician in the world.

Inciting Incident: Buddy goes back to school for modern dance, but his father loses his contract with the hotel and Buddy has to help his family negotiate a new contract with a different hotel. Every time Buddy wants to leave the family business, his family draws him back. He’s trapped. And the only way to get out of the trap is to end the family business, permanently.

Turning Point 1: Through his connections, he finds a designer (Chuck) who can sabotage an illusion to injure the user and make it look like an accident.

Act 2: His girlfriend influences Chuck and he gets cold feet. Chuck threatens to expose Buddy’s plan.

Turning Point 2/ Midpoint: Buddy’s buddy kills Chuck and is going to kill his girlfriend, but she escapes. Mei is the suspect.

Act 3: Mei shows the plans to Jerri, who recognizes them as William Henry’s illusion. Unaware that Buddy is behind it, she tells Buddy to warn William Henry.

Turning Point 3: Buddy has Jerri killed and plants evidence against Mei. Because she lied so much, no one believes her when she protests her innocence. Mei plans to go around Buddy and warn William Henry.

Act 4 Climax: Buddy kidnaps Mei’s brother. Buddy will kill him if Mei doesn’t appear in William Henry’s show, where Buddy has set up his father’s murder and frames Mei.

Resolution: Buddy is thwarted by Mei’s family and his own father. After being confronted, he pushes William Henry down the stairs, but Mei captures him and he’s arrested.

[Terrie Shaft]

Terrie’s Character Journey Structure
Vision: I am paid to write screenplays that become successful movies. My process is so solid I can enjoy my equestrian hobby while exceeding expectations with my writing.
Concept: An alien crashes into an off-the-grid hippie's house and they accidentally swap bodies.
What I learned from doing this assignment is that’s is really beneficial to realize that some characters’ journey may start before the start of the screenplay; however chatgpt won’t recognize that. I actually found myself confused at the structure I created per the assignment was not consistent with the structure the AI was instructed to create.
Misa (Protagonist 1)
• Beginning: Misa is an angry, reclusive hippie living off the grid with her cats and marijuana plants. She shuns human contact, distrusts authority, technology, and mainstream society. Gets into an altercation with a customer at the Farmer’s market and is sent home.
• Inciting Incident: Bill’s spaceship crashes into her home – she assumes it’s a hallucination. She tries to help him fix his spaceship.
• Turning Point 1: Bill and Misa switch bodies. Misa assumes it’s part of the hallucination.
• Act 2: Misa (now in Bill’s body) and Bill (in Misa’s body) struggle with their new circumstances. they need to figure out what causes the swap so they can unswap bodies. Misa's frustration grows as she realizes Bill is not equipped to fix the ship or understand Earth.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Misa needs to attend the farmer’s market to avoid suspicion. Misa dresses up as a bigfoot to accompany Bill (in her body) to sell products. Realizing Bill's body cannot survive on Earth for long, they need to fix the spaceship urgently. Bill (in Misa’s body) learns to navigate human customs and starts to appreciate Misa's passion for the environment. Despite Misa’s clumsiness (because Bill is operating the body), he is a good salesman at the farmer’s market.
• Act 3: Misa (with Bill in the body) must attend the Earth Day festival – winning would provide the $ to get the parts for Bill’s spaceship. Misa (with Bill in the body) works with Bill (with Misa in the body) to improve Misa’s products.
• Turning Point 3: Misa’s products don’t win the festival prize but get retail distribution and the money to fix Bill’s ship. Deputy Rhoades suspects Misa (in Bill’s body) of drug use, adding pressure. They must work together to convince him otherwise and avoid exposing their secret.
• Act 4 Climax: Bill & Misa work to repair the ship. Deputy Rhoades sees Bill’s body. Misa in Bill’s body tells Deputy Rhoades something only she would know. Bill (in Misa’s body) offers to let Misa keep his body so she can leave and survive.
• Resolution: After a final comedic twist that reverses the body swap, Misa returns to her body. She embraces her role in helping others and becomes a catalyst for positive change, working to heal the planet.
Bill
• Beginning: Bill is flying along, comes out of hibernation really needs a toilet, but he breaks it! Figures, he’s always seen as expendable and clumsy. He lacks confidence and is generally considered a failure by his peers.
• Inciting Incident: Bill’s spaceship crashes into Misa’s home. Bill panics – he’s been seen!
• Turning Point 1: Bill switches bodies with Misa. Further panic!
• Act 2: Bill and Misa try to figure out what causes the body swap so they can unswap.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: Misa in Bill’s body attends the farmer’s market dressed as Bigfoot.
• Act 3: Bill’s body (with Misa in it) attends the Earth Day festival hoping to win enough to get parts to fix the ship. Bill and Misa must work together.
• Turning Point 3: Misa’s products don’t win the prize but obtain retail distribution providing the money to fix Bill’s ship. Misa (in Bill’s body) must stay hidden to avoid exposing their secret but still work together.
• Act 4 Climax: Bill and Misa repair the ship. Misa (in Bill’s body) is failing. Deputy Rhoades sees Misa (in Bill’s body) but she tells Deputy Rhoades something only she would know so he doesn’t report the sighting.
• Resolution: Bill and Misa accidentally unswap bodies. Bill returns to his planet with newfound confidence and empathy. He promises to make amends and keep other aliens away from Earth, ready to prove his worth.

Deputy Rhoades
• Beginning: After secretly completing a stint in rehab, he returns to work sober but struggles with self-doubt about his effectiveness. Rhoades encounters Misa at the farmer’s market and diffuses the situation, sending her home with a warning.
• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: He notices Bill (in Misa’s body) acting odd and suspects drug use. His concern for the community stoner deepens his involvement.
• Act 3: “follows up” with Misa, really investigating her
• Turning Point 3: Rhoades' suspicions grow, and he confronts Bill (in Misa’s body), offering rehab advice based on his own experiences.
• Act 4 Climax: See’s Bill’s body – worries he’s somehow fallen off the wagon without knowing.
• Resolution: agrees to keep Misa & Bill’s secret. He remains dedicated to his role but with a new understanding of compassion and second chances, continuing his journey of personal redemption.

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by  Terrie Shaft.

[Vernall Ritchey]

ASSIGNMENT: Module 4: Lesson 1
Vision: To captivate audiences by writing, producing, and directing smart, well-written, blockbuster scripts.
What I learned from doing this assignment is: how clear the story is becoming.
Subject Line: WIM – Vernall Ritchey – Character Structure

KYLA
Beginning:
• Kyla is introduced as a dedicated, attentive, and compassionate caregiver for Father Gill, a bedridden priest.
• Kyla is a soon-to-be nun, devout in her faith, committed to becoming a nun, who shows a genuine interest in Father Gill’s well-being.
• Kyla exhibits unwavering faith and a nurturing demeanor towards Father Gill.
• Kyla feels a sense of calling to become a nun and her caregiving role seems like an extension of her piety.
Inciting Incident:
• Kyla unwittingly encounters the Demon’s presence, unknowingly triggering the possession process, and setting the stage for its influence. It triggers a crisis of faith and vulnerability, which begins to erode her faith and sanity. (This has already happened before the movie begins).
Turning Point 1:
• The attempted exorcism of Father Gill fails, hinting at a deeper mystery/darkness that sets the stage for the revelation of Kyla’s true nature.
• Unexplained events or subtle changes in Kyla’s behavior begin to plant seeds of doubt about her true nature.
• The flicker of malice in her eyes, an unusual reaction to holy objects, and an unsettling shift in her demeanor.
• The Demon’s influence begins subtly, planting seeds of doubt and fear in Kyla’s mind as unexplained phenomena begin to occur around Kyla, hinting at a deeper malevolent force at play, all of which creates a growing sense of unease.
Midpoint:
• As the Demon’s influence intensifies, Kyla’s behavior changes. She experiences increased fear and confusion as the Demon’s influence strengthens, pushing her further from her faith and sanity, leading to a decline in her mental state. She experiences fear and exhibits a growing darkness within.
• The Demon exploits Kyla’s vulnerability, manipulating her and causing her to unknowingly harm Father Gill.
• As Kyla’s demonic nature takes hold, she starts to torment Father Gill, both physically and psychologically.
• (This may not be explicitly shown) Kyla’s faith and sanity deteriorate as the Demon’s influence strengthens.
• Kyla’s internal conflict intensifies. This internal conflict is portrayed through her actions, internal monologues, and struggles with religious faith shown as she wrestles with her faith and her newfound demonic urges.
• Kyla fully embraces her demonic identity, the demon within.
Turning Point 2: (Act 3)
• Kyla’s true demonic nature is revealed. The revelation of Kyla’s demonic identity is a horrifying and major turning point.
• This could be a physical transformation, a moment of possession, or a shocking event.
• The Demon fully possesses Kyla, robbing her of control and turning her into a vessel for its malice. She is a puppet for the evil entity. (This point may be shown through a physical manifestation or a horrific act by Kyla). (This twist reveals the true enemy).
• The audience’s perception of Kyla is shattered, and the story takes on a new horror as they realize the true enemy. The audience’s perception of Kyla shifts from protagonist to antagonist.
Dilemma:
• Kyla faces the dilemma of surrendering to the darkness and fulfilling her demonic potential or clinging to her humanity and faith, even if it means sacrificing her power.
• Even within the possession, there may be a flicker of Kyla’s true self struggling to fight back. This could create an internal conflict as she grapples with the demonic influence.
Major Conflict:
• The major conflict becomes Kyla’s internal battle between good and evil. The battle between her demonic identity and any lingering shred of humanity she may possess.
• Internal struggle (brief) followed by the external conflict of being a pawn in the Demon’s game.
• Externally, she may grapple with how to maintain her facade as a caregiver while succumbing to her demonic urges.
• She faces external forces who may try to expose or exorcise her.
• This conflict can be both physical and psychological, showcasing the torment of being trapped between two identities.
• The exorcism is a terrifying ordeal for Kyla’s possessed self. She will experience immense physical and emotional pain as the priests attempt to sever the Demon’s hold.
• She must choose between succumbing to darkness or fighting for redemption.
Ending:
• Kyla loses control of her body and becomes a vessel for the Demon.
• Fight for Redemption: Father Gill is saved. With the help of Father Moore, Father Lyle, and Father Gill, Kyla finds redemption for her actions. Kyla regains control and expels the demon from her body – then, in a terrifying climax . . .
• Embrace the Darkness: Kyla succumbs to evil and unleashes her full demonic power. She vanquishes Father Lyle who stands in her way. The world is left a darker place due to Kyla’s demonic transformation.
 

Kyla (Demonic):
• Beginning: Kyla is, possessed by the Demon.
• Turning Point 1: Father Lyle suspects Kyla’s possession.
• Midpoint: The Demon’s influence strengthens, pushing Kyla further towards madness and darkness.
• Turning Point 2: The Demon uses Kyla to confront and potentially harm Father Gill, Father Moore, and Father Lyle.
• Dilemma: None, Kyla is no longer in control.
• Major Conflict: The final confrontation with Father Moore, Father Gill, and Father Lyle.
• Ending: The Demon’s hold over Kyla is broken, leaving her traumatized and nearly destroyed, but not deceased.
 
Demon:
• Beginning: The Demon exists as a powerful, malevolent entity. (It has a past defeat, perhaps by a past encounter with an exorcist that fuels its desire for revenge.) It seeks to possess a human host and spread chaos, darkness, and suffering. It may have suffered a defeat in the past, fueling its desire for revenge.
• Turning Point 1: The Demon encounters Kyla, a vulnerable soon-to-be nun, and recognizes her potential as a vessel and begins to subtly manipulate and ultimately possess her.
• Midpoint: Kyla’s descent into darkness accelerates as the Demon exerts greater control/influence over Kyla, successfully manipulating her thoughts and actions, eroding her faith, and pushing her toward darkness, and further towards possession. (This strengthens the Demon’s hold on her and paves the way for full possession.)
• Turning Point 2: The Demon fully possesses Kyla, taking complete control of her body and unleashing its full power as he uses her as a vessel to wreak havoc, sow discord, and destruction. This marks the Demon’s true victory and the beginning of its reign of terror.
• Dilemma: None, the Demon thrives on manipulating, tormenting, and creating dilemmas for others. However, the Demon may face a dilemma if it underestimates the power of Father Moore and Father Lyle’s faith and the bond between Kyla and Father Gill. This leads to a miscalculation or a temporary setback.
• Major Conflict: The ultimate conflict is the final confrontation with Father Moore, Father Lyle, and a weakened Father Gill, where the Demon fights to maintain control of Kyla. The exorcism attempt by Father Moore, Father Gill, and Father Lyle. The Demon fights to maintain control of Kyla and achieve its ultimate goals. The Demon will use all its power and Kyla’s body to resist and potentially harm them.
• Ending: The Demon’s hold over Kyla is weakened/broken, but it’s clear that it’s not banished/destroyed as it retakes hold of Kyla.

[Margaret]

Margaret’s Character Structure
My Vision: To write profound faith-based screenplays that are produced
What I learned: The importance of having a character structure for each of your main characters.
Character Structure for “Beyond the Shadow”
4-Act Structure:
Beginning: Jabin is a determined and ambitious college senior, planning to graduate and start a career at Raytheon. He is optimistic and focused on his future.
Ant. Beginning: Dr. Morgan is a pragmatic oncologist focused on providing the best possible care for his patients, often at the expense of their personal aspirations.
Inciting Incident/ TP 1: Jabin receives a terminal cancer diagnosis from Dr. Morgan, throwing his future into uncertainty, with a life-and-death struggle, and starting his internal battle with despair and fear.
Ant. TP 1: Dr. Morgan delivers Jabin’s terminal diagnosis, initiating the central conflict between his medical realism and Jabin’s aspirations.
TC (Triangle Character) Beginning: Becca is Jabin’s old high school flame who initially rejected him. She is empathetic, optimistic, and loyal, but carries the emotional wound of her past regret.
TC TP 1: Becca reconnects with Jabin and learns about his terminal diagnosis, reigniting her feelings and determination to support him.
Act 2: Jabin continues with school despite his illness, goes into remission, and rekindles a relationship with Becca.
Ant. Midpoint: As Jabin goes into remission and graduates, Dr. Morgan begins to see the impact of Jabin’s determination and starts to question his own approach.
Midpoint: The cancer resurges, testing Jabin’s resolve and his relationship with Becca as he embraces the uncertainty of his future.
TC Midpoint: As Jabin goes into remission and they start a relationship, Becca’s faith in his potential strengthens, but the cancer’s resurgence tests their bond.
Ant. TP 2: When the cancer resurges, Dr. Morgan explores alternative treatments, pushing the boundaries of traditional medicine and showing a shift towards supporting Jabin’s personal journey.
Ant. Dilemma: Dr. Morgan must balance his professional dedication to finding effective treatments with the risk of giving Jabin false hope.
TP 2: Jabin faces the dilemma of choosing between a risky therapy to prevent reoccurrence of the cancer, losing his job at Raytheon or start his job without the treatment.
Dilemma: Jabin must choose between his career aspirations and his health, knowing that either choice could lead to significant loss.
TC TP 2: Becca stands by Jabin as he faces his health-career dilemma, providing unwavering support and encouraging him to choose life and love.
TC Dilemma: Becca must choose between the fear of losing Jabin and the hope of a future together, knowing the pain that either choice could bring.
Act 3: Jabin plans a wedding, has stem cell replacement therapy, starts work at Raytheon.
Turning Point 3: Two days before his wedding with Becca, the cancer returns.
TC Major Conflict: As Jabin’s cancer returns just before their wedding, Becca confronts the reality of their uncertain future and must find the strength to commit fully.
Ant. Major Conflict: Dr. Morgan faces his own professional burnout and the emotional toll of seeing Jabin’s recurring struggles, leading to a personal crisis about his role as a doctor.
Act 4: Jabin marries Becca, starts oral chemotherapy.
TC Ending: Becca marries Jabin, embracing the uncertainty and cherishing their love. Her unwavering faith and support are instrumental in Jabin’s miraculous recovery, symbolizing the power of love and resilience.
Act 4 Climax / Major Conflict: Jabin has a pneumothorax, and has a life-threatening decision to make. Should he not marry Becca or take a life-risking flight to his wedding?
Resolution: Jabin marries Becca, starts a new chapter in his life, and embraces each day with gratitude. A miracle happens, and Jabin’s cancer becomes undetectable, symbolizing his journey from despair to hope and his acceptance of life’s uncertainties.
Ant. Ending: Dr. Morgan comes to celebrate Jabin’s life and achievements, recognizing the value of faith and personal aspirations in the healing process.

[Hope McPherson]

Hope’s character structure

My Vison: To be a full-time respected screenwriter whose work brings joy to viewers and creates work for others in the industry, including actors and crew.

What I learned: Another terrific step to n outline. Separating the protag’s and antag’s journeys is a gamechanger and makes them both more clearly be working at odds of the other.

Protagonist: Marta Jordan

Beginning: Marta is meticulously planning her wedding day, showcasing her need for control and her anxiety over perfection. She’s also stressed about her manuscript deadline and fears she won’t meet her publisher’s expectations..

Turning Point 1: Two of her book’s fictional characters — antagonist Vincent Black and Lily Gillis — appear and threaten to “edit” her life if she won’t meet their demands.

Act 2: Marta refuses and her fictional characters begin “editing” her wedding. Marta’s publisher arrives and pressures Marta to deliver her overdue manuscript.

Turning point 2/ midpoint: Vincent pulls Marta’s groom, Marcus, “into Marta’s book,” and Marcus disappears from the venue.

Act 3: Marta uncovers clues that lead her to former mentor Royal Brighton’s involvement, revealing the true extent of his grudge against her.

Turning point 3: Marta witnesses disasters pile up: Marcus is still missing, decorations burst into flames, catering goes awry; the officiant cancels.

Act 4 climax: Marta finds Marcus and enlists Vincent and Lily — who she tricks into admitting are actors — to turn the tables on Royal.

Resolution: Marta discovers happiness in the chaos as the wedding comes off as a creative smash hit, with Vincent and Lily gaining new jobs as wedding planners.

Antagonist: Royal Brighton

Beginning: Best-selling author Royal Brighton is dropped by his publisher, as his mentees such as Marta Jordan become more famous.

Turning point 1: To bring down his competition, Royal hires his unemployed cousin/actor and his cousin’s girlfriend to pretend to be Marta’s fictional character’s come-to-life.

Act 2: Royal attends Marta’s wedding and offers to “help her” as he sees the chaos ensue.

Turning point 2/midpoint: Royal uses the chaos to get back into the good graces of his and Marta’s publisher.

Act 3: Royal convinces the publisher that Marta is unstable and should be dropped instead of him.

Turning point 3: Royal argues with Vincent and Lily, who’re having attacks of conscious. hides Marcus, the groom, in the basement of the venue.

Act 4 climax: Marta confronts Royal, as Vincent and Lily lead her to Marcus.

Resolution: Royal retires from writing books and decides to raise llamas.

[jamie handley]

Jamie’s Character Structure
My scripts will get made into powerful movies that impact audiences and view me as a talented, hardworking professional.
Doing this assignment has been a little bit difficult. I have been out of state for 3 weeks and picking up where I left off was challenging BUT I got it done!!! I have felt overwhelmed knowing how far behind I am BUT I am still committed and though I am late I will not beating myself up. I will catch up.
This is my new empowerment, “I love this class and I can do the work. I will catch up.”

Lindsey Turner (Protagonist)

Beginning: Lindsey starts as a burdened and heart-broken caregiver, overwhelmed with sorting her mother’s estate while dealing with her own chronic pain and opioid dependence.
Turning Point: Sadie’s worsening condition and manipulative actions push Lindsey into a caretaker role, compounding her stress and resentment.
Midpoint: Discovering manipulative and deceitful actions from Sadie in her mother’s journals, Lindsey confronts the reality of her family’s dysfunction, particularly Sadie’s exploitation of her illness for drugs.
Turning Point: Lindsey’s efforts to manage Sadie’s care plan clash with Brooke’s desires, leading to familial strife and deepening Lindsey’s isolation.
Dilemma: Faced with supporting Sadie’s choice for assisted suicide or upholding her moral objections, Lindsey is torn between sisterly love and her ethical stance.
Major Conflict: Lindsey’s attempt to intervene in Sadie’s planned assisted suicide, juxtaposed with her need to stabilize her family.
Ending: After Sadie’s death, Lindsey steps into her role as the family matriarch, initiating new traditions and beginning to write a memoir, symbolizing her acceptance and growth.
Sadie Meade (Antagonist)
Beginning: Sadie is a terminally ill, manipulative drug addict, whose charming exterior masks deep-seated guilt and a desire to end her life.
Turning Point: Sadie decides to manipulate her medical situation to gain access to more drugs, deepening the family’s crisis.
Midpoint: Her actions lead to a family confrontation about her drug abuse and the revelation of her assisted suicide plans.
Turning Point: Sadie’s health declines rapidly, leading to a fall that catalyzes her final decision.
Dilemma: Sadie must choose between continuing her life in pain or pursuing her controversial plan for assisted suicide, despite family objections.
Major Conflict: Her assisted suicide attempt, fraught with complications, becomes the focal point of the family’s deepest conflicts.
Ending: Sadie dies under complex circumstances, her choices leaving a lasting impact on her family, particularly on Brooke and Lindsey.

Brooke Meade

Beginning: Estranged and seeking reconciliation, Brooke returns to Oregon to care for her ailing mother, Sadie.
Turning Point: Brooke takes on the role of caregiver, which reopens old wounds and resentments from past abandonment.
Midpoint: As Brooke becomes more involved in Sadie’s care, she discovers the depth of Sadie’s manipulation, altering her perception of their relationship.
Turning Point: Brooke’s conflicting desires to support her mother’s final wishes and her own emotional well-being clash.
Dilemma: Brooke struggles with her mother’s decision for assisted suicide, balancing her wish to support her mother with her personal and ethical reservations.
Major Conflict: Brooke is forced to confront her feelings of abandonment and betrayal as she participates in the complexities surrounding Sadie’s final days.
Ending: Brooke’s worldview shifts as she processes her grief and begins to find closure, using her inheritance to pursue nursing, embracing her role in healing both herself and others.

Gracie Wyatt

Beginning: Gracie starts as an independent spirit living with Lindsey, her mother, while starting her own floral business.
Turning Point: The death of her grandmother and the subsequent discovery of the journals thrust her into the family’s deeper issues.
Midpoint: Gracie’s discovery of the journals’ contents offers new insights into her family’s past, influencing her views on her aunt Sadie and mother.
Turning Point: Gracie becomes a mediator as familial tensions escalate, trying to balance between supporting her mother and understanding Sadie.
Dilemma: Gracie is torn between her loyalty to Lindsey and her empathy for Sadie’s suffering.
Major Conflict: Gracie plays a crucial role in the chaotic family meeting that attempts to address Sadie’s end-of-life decisions.
Ending: Gracie helps Lindsey transition into her new role as matriarch, finding her own path to independence and self-discovery, influenced by lessons from the past.

[Michael Collado]

Mike’s Character Structure

My Vision is to write an original screenplay, make a couple of calls to pitch it, to start a bidding war.
From this lesson, I learned to Map out the characters actions during the script and this makes it easy to keep the action pointed at the concept at all times.

Concept: A suspended female junior detective coaches a team of brainiac misfits, sponsored by a shady corporation, on how to play baseball with science, math, and physics. When corporate espionage threatens the town, she enlists the team’s unique skills to unravel the mystery, discovering the CEO’s involvement and confronting her family’s past ties to the company.
Main Conflict: Juggling coaching duties, unraveling corporate espionage, and confronting family ties to the corporation while battling sexism in law enforcement.
Old Ways: Jo approaches problems confrontationally without asking for help, often leading to conflicts with authority. She feels constrained by the sexist structures of her workplace, leading to feelings of frustration and helplessness. She doubts the applicability of her skills outside her specific job role, fearing that her abilities are not transferable or broadly valuable.
New Ways: By the film’s end, Jo adopts a more strategic approach to problem-solving. She learns to work within systems to change them, using creativity and indirect methods to achieve her goals. Jo gains new confidence in the versatility of her skills, understanding that her investigative talents can be a force for good in any context, not just police work. She sees herself as a multifaceted individual capable of inspiring and leading others in diverse situations.

JOCINDA/COACH JO’S CHARACTER JOURNEY STRUCTURE
Act 1: Opening: 25 to 30 pages
We open with junior detective Jocinda/Coach Jo being suspended from the force due to a controversial case, highlighting the sexism she faces in law enforcement.
Inciting Incident:
Jocinda agrees to coach her goddaughter’s baseball team because of the downtime from the suspension. At the first practice Coach Jo learns that the Little League has stacked her team with brainiacs.

Turning Point:

Coach Jo tries to use a teaching CD for the team to bring home and watch with their parents, hoping to get the parents involved in teaching their kids how to play baseball with the same techniques she is using at practices. This plan fails miserably because the parents are worse than the kids.

Act 2: 20 to 30 pages
New plan
Coach Jo meets the neighborhood crackpot “Zany” Doc Kramer at the local tavern and listens to the insight he has on how to start teaching the kids the game of baseball.
Plan in action
She starts with a rule book and a book on baseball strategy, explaining it’s like learning chess. You can’t win if you don’t know the rules or the strategies to win.
She also starts teaching the brainiacs how to play baseball with tips on how to use science, math, physics, from Doc Kramer.

Midpoint Turning Point

Things are going well, and then she notices some of the other players on opposing teams are improving exponentially.

Act 3: 20 to 30 pages — With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways.
Rethink everything
Coach Jo sits in her RV with a murder board on the wall, trying to figure out what is happening and she turns her interest to two boys in particular. One of the boys reminds her of willie Mays with some of the moves her has and the other reminds her Ty Cobb only because of his orneriness an very hard play.

New plan
Coach Jo runs everything past her sister and her husband, and Kofi points out that asking for help is a step in the right direction for a new you.
Coach Jo learns from her sister about the Nano Bots and the vitamins the other kids are taking.

Turning Point: Major shift
Coach Jo realizes what is happening with the kids taking the vitamins; the corporate sponsor is using the kids as a human testing ground for a secret Nanobot skill-enhancing program.
She brings it to the senior detective who tried to help her before she was suspended.

Act 4: 25 pages — Test the change in this character!
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict
Coach Jo confronts the head of the league, Mr. Jones, who is also an opposing coach, about her findings and turns him against the corporate sponsor.
With evidence in hand, the Senior detective arrests the corporate sponsor and puts an end to the Nano Bot program. Releasing the kids from the Nano Bot enhancement with the taking of an antidote.
Resolution
With the truth revealed, Coach Jo is reinstated to the force, but she chooses to continue coaching the team, using her position to inspire change and empower her players.

MR. BLACK’S CHARACTER JOURNEY STRUCTURE

Act 1: Opening: 25 to 30 pages
Mr. Black is the CEO and a brilliant nanotechnologist at Synapse Tech Systems and is also the CEO of the Vita Solutions Vitamin company in the area.
Inciting Incident:
Mr. Black is on the brink of a breakthrough in human performance enhancement. His latest nanobot technology interacts with neurons in the brain. These nanobots are programmed to interface with the neural network, accessing muscle memory and instinctual responses in a white rat.

Turning Point:
The white rats are becoming so intelligent and agile that they are climbing on top of the maze’s walls to go directly to the food source. This is attributed to the information the nanobots are feeding the white rat’s neural network.

Act 2: 20 to 30 pages
New plan
Mr. Black and his assistant enhanced the nanobots program to interface with the neural network, accessing the muscle memory and instinctual responses. Nanobots attach themselves to specific neurons, forming a seamless connection with the motor cortex of a chimpanzee.

Plan in action
The new plan is working beautifully. The chimpanzee has quickly adapted to the mannerisms of a young boy while playing catch with Mr. Black.

Midpoint Turning Point
Late one night alone in his lab Mr. Black injects himself with a syringe of nanobots tagged 5ToolMaster. It doesn’t take long for Mr. Black to start feeling the change in his body and his mental attitude.

Act 3: 20 to 30 pages — With Midpoint change, Profound moments that give us new ways.
Rethink everything

Mr. Black’s lab assistant is busy working on coding to program more nanobots with five of the top baseball athletes in the game’s history with their unique skills and mind set. Mr. Black also doesn’t hesitate to use his vitamin company’s products as a vessel to introduce the nanobots to their host.

New plan
Mr. Black gets his sales manager at Vita Solutions, Mr. Jones, to offer the nanobot vitamins to a chosen few of unaware little league players for human testing. With a placebo of course also to different players to measure the difference in reaction.

Turning Point: Major shift
Things are going very well until Coach Jo starts to suspect something is wrong. A few of the opposing players are developing at an unusual rate. Questions and figures out the unscrupulous testing going on at the little league player’s expense.

Act 4: 25 pages —
Climax/Ultimate expression of the conflict
With evidence in hand, the Senior detective arrests the corporate sponsor and puts an end to the Nano Bot program. Releasing the kids from the Nano Bot enhancement with the taking of an antidote.

Resolution
The town begins to reckon with the consequences of corporate influence.

• This reply was modified 11 months ago by  Michael Collado.

[hari messer]

Hari's Character Structure

My Vision: I want to write screenplays that enable me to work with like minded creative people in the industry to produce profound movies that will have a long lasting positive effect on the world.

What I learned… 4 Act structure and Character Journeys are closely aligned.

### Character Journey Maps for Sci-Fi Thriller Screenplay

#### Protagonist: Colt McBride

**Beginning:**
– **Where does the character start?**
– Colt McBride is a suspended cop, haunted by a past failure, and looking to escape his troubled big city life.

**Turning Point:**
– **A twist that locks them into a conflict.**
– Discovers a dead body that morphs into a reptilian creature, pushing him to investigate despite warnings from Sheriff Del Beck.

**Midpoint:**
– **A twist that causes everything to change.**
– Falls in love with Jamaica Daly, only to witness her morph into a reptilian form, revealing her alien nature.

**Turning Point:**
– **Another twist that takes them to the biggest conflict.**
– Learns the full extent of the alien invasion plan and the significance of the water supply. Jamaica decides to reveal her true identity at the 4th of July celebration.

**Dilemma:**
– **The character is faced with two equally unacceptable choices. They lose either way.**
– Colt must choose between helping Jamaica reveal the alien presence, risking her life, or keeping her safe and potentially dooming humanity.

**Major Conflict:**
– **The ultimate experience of this conflict.**
– Colt plans an ambush to save Jamaica and Evelyn from Beck, only to find out that Hal Burton, an ally, is the real leader of the aliens.

**Ending:**
– **Their world has changed.**
– Colt manages to expose the aliens, uniting humanity against the invasion. He leaves Jefferson with a renewed sense of purpose and a desire to face his past in the big city.

—

#### Antagonist: Del Beck

**Beginning:**
– **Where does the character start?**
– Sheriff Del Beck is the authoritative, charismatic, and ruthless leader of the alien contingent in Jefferson, hiding his true nature beneath a human facade.

**Turning Point:**
– **A twist that locks them into a conflict.**
– Colt’s discovery of the morphing body in the lake and his relentless pursuit of the truth threatens Beck’s control.

**Midpoint:**
– **A twist that causes everything to change.**
– Beck realizes that Colt’s investigation could expose the entire alien operation, increasing his efforts to eliminate Colt.

**Turning Point:**
– **Another twist that takes them to the biggest conflict.**
– Beck kidnaps Evelyn to force Jamaica to surrender, planning to kill them to protect the alien mission.

**Dilemma:**
– **The character is faced with two equally unacceptable choices. They lose either way.**
– Beck must decide between killing Jamaica to secure the alien mission or maintaining his human facade, risking exposure and rebellion from his own kind.

**Major Conflict:**
– **The ultimate experience of this conflict.**
– During the ambush, Beck is revealed as merely a front, with Hal Burton being the true leader. Beck’s loss of control signifies his ultimate defeat.

**Ending:**
– **Their world has changed.**
– Beck’s failure leads to the collapse of the alien plan, and his defeat represents the fall of the alien control in Jefferson, leaving him powerless and exposed.

—

#### Triangle Character: Jamaica Daly

**Beginning:**
– **Where does the character start?**
– Jamaica Daly is an ambitious, seductive member of the Jefferson Water Board, unaware of her alien heritage and conflicted about her identity.

**Turning Point:**
– **A twist that locks them into a conflict.**
– Her relationship with Colt and the revelation of her morphing into reptilian form forces her to confront her true nature.

**Midpoint:**
– **A twist that causes everything to change.**
– Learns from her mother Evelyn about her alien heritage and the significance of the water rituals, shifting her role from corporate player to potential savior.

**Turning Point:**
– **Another twist that takes them to the biggest conflict.**
– Decides to reveal her true identity and the alien presence at the 4th of July celebration, risking her life for the greater good.

**Dilemma:**
– **The character is faced with two equally unacceptable choices. They lose either way.**
– Jamaica must choose between exposing herself and potentially being killed, or hiding her identity, allowing the alien plan to proceed unchecked.

**Major Conflict:**
– **The ultimate experience of this conflict.**
– Jamaica is kidnapped by Beck, leading to a confrontation where her true identity is revealed in a dramatic public setting.

**Ending:**
– **Their world has changed.**
– Jamaica’s death catalyzes the exposure of the alien presence, uniting humanity against the invasion. Her sacrifice is a turning point in the battle for Earth.

—

• This reply was modified 11 months ago by  hari messer.

[Kristin Donnan]

Kristin’s Character Structure

VISION: “I envision writing so well and consistently that I’m in demand, cherry-picking projects, selling beyond my wildest dreams, collaborating with people I admire and truly care about, and speaking my soul—on a big scale—so that I enjoy professional freedom, financial freedom, and joy.”

WHAT I LEARNED DOING THIS ASSIGNMENT: I already was familiar with the idea that the antagonist’s journey doesn’t have to match up with the main plot, but the use of AI in this one was especially helpful. I had correctly positioned the early phases of my antagonist “before the film starts,” but wasn’t sure how to manage the main turning points (not the action, per se, but the TPs), and AI “did what I was thinking” but organized it in a way that made me say, “oh, of course.” So it was super helpful. I also was having trouble knowing what my antag was going to do now and then, so I LET IT GO for now. 

Character Journey: Protagonist John

Beginning:
John starts as a reclusive rancher, deeply connected to his family's homestead and livestock, but emotionally isolated and burdened by his father's demeaning legacy. He feels obligated to maintain the family ranch and uphold the family's reputation, often at the expense of his own desires.

Turning Point:
The discovery of a dead woman on his property pulls John into a murder investigation, compelling him to engage with the modern world and its complexities. This incident also brings to light his brother Zeke's potential involvement, forcing John to navigate the conflict between family loyalty and justice.

Midpoint:
John uncovers deeper, more sinister family secrets, including connections to old crimes and hidden skeletons. He realizes the extent of his family's involvement in underworld activities and begins to question the moral code he has followed all his life.

Turning Point:
John learns about the theft of his mother's mineral rights by his father and Zeke, a betrayal that shatters his belief in the family code. This revelation forces him to confront the moral and ethical implications of his actions and his family's legacy.

Dilemma:
John faces a critical choice: protect his family's reputation and maintain the status quo, or expose the truth and risk destroying the family. Both options carry significant personal and familial costs.

Major Conflict:
The ultimate confrontation with Zeke is both physical and symbolic. John must decide whether to continue protecting his family at the cost of his integrity or to stand up for what he believes is right, even if it means turning against his own blood.

Ending:
John emerges from the conflict with a newfound sense of integrity and self-acceptance. He chooses to forge a new path, rejecting the corrupt family code and seeking a life defined by his own values. His world changes as he gains a sense of belonging and appreciation for who he truly is.

Character Journey: Antagonist Zeke
[Zeke’s actual “beginning” happens before the movie, with shady behavior he conducted with his father years before. After both his parents’ deaths, the land/business are now in a probate process, and he sees his opportunity to make a land grab. However, when someone in government—whom he’s also been dating—realizes there’s something fishy going on, he takes desperate action.]

Film opening:
Zeke is introduced as a charismatic but selfish and manipulative figure. He feels entitled to the family ranch and believes he deserves more than what he has received, driven by a need to prove himself and outshine John.

Turning Point:
When the dead woman is discovered, Zeke's past begins to catch up with him. The investigation threatens to expose his secrets, and his relationship with John becomes strained as suspicions grow.

Midpoint:
Zeke's hidden agenda to sell the ranch and pocket the money comes to light. He manipulates family members and outsiders to shift suspicion away from himself, further entangling himself in lies and deceit.

Turning Point:
As John uncovers the theft of the mineral rights, Zeke's deceptions and betrayals are revealed. This causes Zeke to become increasingly desperate and reckless, willing to do anything to protect his secrets and ambitions.

Dilemma:
Zeke is torn between continuing his manipulative schemes to secure his future or facing the consequences of his actions. Either choice threatens his carefully constructed persona and his standing within the family.

Major Conflict:
The final confrontation with John is a desperate attempt by Zeke to assert his dominance and secure his plans. The fight represents Zeke's struggle to maintain control and his fear of losing everything he believes he deserves.

Ending:
Zeke's world collapses as his schemes are exposed and he faces the consequences of his actions. His downfall is complete, and he is left to grapple with the reality of his failures and the loss of his family's respect. His journey ends in defeat, contrasted with John's newfound integrity and self-acceptance.

[Tom Wilson]

Tom’s Character Structure
My vision is to write well enough to have producers calling me back to do writing assignments.
Doing this assignment, I learned the Hero’s Journey is often the plot.

Sara Amed (Protagonist)
Beginning: Sara teaches girls science (Taliban forbids), translates for U.S. troops, searches for a cure for a disease afflicting her people and her mother Fazela, has an affair with her true love Lt. Matt Brown.

Turning Point: Ratkin abruptly orders U.S. troops out because he wants to run for President. So Sara can enter a Berkeley PhD program to find a cure, she agrees to be Ratkin’s fiancé so voters will elect him President.

Midpoint: Ratkin’s party still won’t nominate him because of his Afghan baggage. He confronts Sara in her Berkeley classroom: Marry me or I’m shipping you back to Afghanistan. Sara: Hell, no!.

Turning Point: Ratkin sics FBI onto her, says she’s a terrorist. She flees to Afghanistan to find the real terrorist.

Dilemma: Fazela has gotten worse. Sara gives her new meds. She gets better. Sara finds her twin brother Zeno joined Taliban and will assassinate Ratkin when he’s inaugurated. She returns to save Ratkin.

Major Conflict: Sara’s frantic to cure the disease vs Ratkin’s desire to become President.

Ending: Sara leaves the hospital early, reunites with Matt at his place. FBI breaks in an arrests them.

General Ratkin (Antagonist)
Beginning: Ratkin, who commands U.S. Army troops in Afghanistan, watches kiddie porn on his computer. He fancies Sara who doesn’t care for him.

Turning Point: A mysterious stranger orders Ratkin bring the troops home and run for President. So voters will forgive him for deserting the Afghans, he’s told to become engaged to the very popular Afghan scientist Sara.

Midpoint: Ratkin’s party won’t nominate him unless he marries Sara. She says no. He sics the FBI on to her because he says she’s a terrorist. She flees back to Afghanistan. Ratkin’s Presidential chances rapidly diminish.

Turning Point: Matt, Sara’s former lover, convinces her to return and marry Ratkin because the Presidential shoo-in was caught selling secrets to Iran but can’t be charged. Ratkin must beat him to the White House.

Dilemma: Sara hates that she must break up with Matt. They planned to marry and start a family. Instead she must pretend to love and marry Ratkin to prevent a terrorist from becoming President.

Major Conflict: Sara stands near Ratkin when he’s being sworn in on the Capitol steps. On a nearby rooftop, Zeno, Sara’s twin brother, launches a missile at Ratkin. It wounds Ratkin and Sara.

Ending: Still in hospital, Ratkin recovers from his wounds. Wonders why Sara left the hospital early.

[Andrew Foerster]

Drew’s Character Structure
My Vision: I am doing all that is needed to create a future where I am a well-respected Hollywood writer and have the freedom to choose the projects I put my time towards as well as working with amazing producers, directors actors, and agents/managers.
What I learned from doing this assignment is… I learned that finding the arc for both of the main characters give both of them a deeper meaning and will add more realistic actions and dialog.
Protagonist: Emma
• Beginning: Emma works in Chicago at a marketing firm (what’s a more interesting job?). She’s excellent at her job and vying for a promotion to VP. He has a casual boyfriend who cheats on her. She is haunted by strange dreams.

• Inciting Incident: She wakes up in a field, almost naked. Lying next to Matthew. Touching three fingers. They have no idea how they got there.

• Turning Point 1: Emma feels she needs to find Matthew. She flies to Portland. She finds out that he’s flown to Chicago to find her.

• Act 2: (fun and games) Emma finds Matthew and they agree to meet in Las Vegas at a UFO convention where they meet all kinds of odd people.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: The MIB are after them. The escape and kiss. They find out they can trust no one.

• Act 3: Emma finds out that they both have been abducted since they were children. And Matthew remembers her. They discover that they are in love because the Aliens programmed them to be. Emma begs to be abducted again. She doesn’t want “fake love.”

• Turning Point 3: They have their chips removed and Emma finds herself in a field, all alone. Emma goes back to her original life. When she gets back to Chicago, she quits her job. (what idea does Emma need to look at and discard?) Matthew has been wiped from her mind.

• Act 4 Climax: Emma has an urge to move to the northwest. She sees Matthew and approaches him because she thinks she knows him. He doesn’t know her but feels attraction. Then for a mysterious reason they raise three fingers and touch them together, the memories flood back.

• Resolution: Six months later they get married out in the middle of the field where they were first dropped.

Antagonist: Matthew
• Beginning: Matt has been abducted since he was a kid. He remembers only bits and has bad dreams. He is engaged to Sydney who is controlling.

• Inciting Incident: Matt is abducted and then dropped into a field with Emma.

• Turning Point 1: He searches for Emma. Finds out she lives in Chicago and flies to find her.

• Act 2: Emma finds Matthew and they agree to meet in Las Vegas at a UFO convention where they meet all kinds of odd people.

• Turning Point 2 / Midpoint: The MIB are after them. The escape and kiss. They find out they can trust no one.

• Act 3: Matt tells Emma that they both have been abducted since they were children and the aliens made them a match to study human relationships. And he remembers her. Emma doesn’t want “fake love” and begs to be abducted again. Matt begs her to stay connected to him.

• Turning Point 3: They have their chips removed and Matt finds himself in a field, all alone. Matt goes back to Portland. No longer remembers Emma (how does it get erased in his friend’s mind?)

• Act 4 Climax: Matthew moves forward with his wedding. At his wedding shower party Emma stumbles in. She doesn’t know why she’s been directed to that place. He doesn’t know her but feels attraction. Then for a mysterious reason they raise three fingers and touch them together, the memories flood back.

• Resolution: Six months later they get married out in the middle of the field where they were first dropped.

• This reply was modified 10 months, 2 weeks ago by  Andrew Foerster.

[Sylvia Krawczyk]

WIM+AI – Module 4 – Lesson 1: Character Journey Structure
Sylvia’s Character Structure
My vision from this program is to challenge myself in my writing genre and write my most amazing script to date.
What I learned from doing this assignment is…the story line seems to get better all the time.

Genre = Romantic Thriller
Concept = An artist's unexpected reunion with her first love reveals mutual passion that turns to sinister betrayal leading to a crises that unravels her life.
Character profiles =
Character: Protagonist: Hope
Logline: A well-known artist, Hope, is unhappily married to Will.
Unique: Hope is guilt filled that she respects yet does not love her husband. She’s still in love with Joy.

Character: Antagonist: Joy is Hope’s old classmate.
Logline: Full of life, Joy is an art curator.
Unique: Joy was Hope’s first love in High School and Will’s best buddy from College. They were engaged.

Character: Antagonist-Third Wheel: Will is Hope’s husband.
Logline: Will is a family lawyer that avoids responsibilities with his wife, Hope.
Unique: Will is secretly having an affair with Hope’s brother, Michael, as he helps Joy steal all that is Hope.

4-Act Structure =
Act 1:
Opening:
Hope Harwood, a successful artist, is emotionally disconnected from her life, her marriage to Will, and her creative process. At her art exhibit featuring older, successful works, she feels trapped in her past achievements and a loveless marriage suppressing her true desires.

Inciting Incident:
A fire breaks out at the gallery, damaging some of Hope’s older works. An art dealer presses her to create new art to cover the damages, forcing her to confront her creative stagnation and self-doubt.

Turning Point:
Hope discovers that Will is having an affair with her brother, Michael. This deepens her emotional crisis. Amid this personal chaos, she runs into Joy, her first love, reigniting unresolved feelings and intensifying her internal conflict. Hope, feeling lost, sees Joy as a potential way out of her stagnant life. Her passion is reignited with unresolved feelings and complicating her already fragile emotional state.

Act 2:
New Plan:
Joy encourages Hope to create new work and revive her art career, offering support and seduction. Hope, smitten and inspired, begins to focus on her art again, using Joy's validation as fuel to escape her emotional turmoil. Hope sees Joy as a savior, offering her a chance to revive her creativity and escape her troubled marriage. Will is emotionally unavailable. He lets Hope do as she wishes and remains passive.

Plan in Action:
Hope creates new art and finds herself creatively rejuvenated. Her relationship with Joy becomes romantic, deepening her connection to the past and fueling her creativity. Will remains absent, avoiding any confrontation with Hope. However, Joy begins taking subtle credit for Hope’s work, positioning herself as the visionary behind Hope’s artistic success. This professional power dynamic begins to shift, as Joy becomes the face of their collaboration.

Midpoint Turning Point:
The tension escalates when Hope catches Will and Michael together, confirming her worst fears. At the same time, Joy reveals her financial troubles and convinces Hope to allow her to use some of Hope’s artwork under Joy’s name to boost her career exploiting Hope's emotions to serve her own agenda. This marks the moment when Hope is both emotionally and professionally manipulated by the two people closest to her—Will and Joy.

Act 3:
Rethink Everything:
Joy’s manipulation grows more aggressive. Hope starts to see through Joy’s manipulations. Joy’s rise to fame, built on Hope’s work, becomes more blatant, and Hope realizes that her own identity and creative legacy are being stolen. Hope begins to feel used and betrayed. She realizes that Joy is not the person she thought she was, but confronting this truth feels overwhelming. Hope is further sidelined in the art world as Joy's star rises. Meanwhile, Will moves forward with divorce proceedings. His passive-aggressive opposition becomes more evident as he seeks to capitalize on the divorce, further complicating Hope’s already fragile life.

New Plan:
Hope tries to reclaim her art and identity but feels trapped and powerless by Joy’s growing influence and Will’s legal claims. Will, now emboldened by his relationship with Michael, files for divorce, taking a substantial portion of Hope’s assets. The art world, enamored by Joy, largely dismisses Hope, who is seen as yesterday’s news. Faced with personal and professional ruin, she contemplates walking away from everything but knows she must fight back to regain her life and career.

Turning Point: Huge Failure / Major Shift:
Hope’s worst fears are realized when Joy fully eclipses her in the art world. Joy takes over Hope’s artistic identity and her persona. Hope is sidelined, her name and contributions erased. Will’s divorce proceedings leave Hope financially devastated, and she is on the brink of losing everything—her art, her marriage, and her reputation. Will’s divorce proceedings will leave Hope with almost nothing, both emotionally and financially. She hits rock bottom.

Act 4:
Climax/Ultimate Expression of the Conflict:
Determined to fight back, Hope hires a lawyer and takes Joy to court. She exposes Joy’s theft using forensic evidence that reveals Hope’s hidden signature under the layers of paint on every piece Joy claimed as her own. Joy, in a last-ditch effort, uses her connections and influence to discredit Hope, accusing her of lying and trying to destroy her career out of jealousy. The courtroom battle intensifies as Joy’s manipulations and lies come to light, but she loses ground as the evidence mounts against her.

In this final battle, Hope publicly reclaims her identity as the true artist behind the work. This public confrontation is cathartic, as Hope reclaims her identity, both as an artist and as a person. Joy’s deception is revealed, and her career collapses. Will, seeing that he cannot manipulate Hope anymore retreats defeated. He agrees to a divorce settlement that allows Hope to retain her assets.

Resolution:
With her name and reputation restored, Hope triumphs in court and reclaims her assets. She divorces Will and severs ties with Joy completely. Empowered by her victory, Hope leaves the city to start fresh, embracing her artistic rebirth and newfound emotional freedom. Free from the toxic relationships that once defined her, she embarks on a new chapter in life, creatively and personally liberated. Hope experiences a creative resurgence, this time unburdened by the
emotional baggage of her past.

Protagonist: Hope
Journey: From emotional repression and creative stagnation to empowerment and artistic rebirth.
• Beginning:
Hope is emotionally disconnected from her art, her marriage, and herself. She feels trapped by her past success and an unfulfilling marriage to Will, carrying guilt for not loving him despite respecting him. Her creative energy is blocked by unresolved feelings for Joy, her first love, who represents both nostalgia and unhealed wounds.
• Turning Point:
The discovery of Will's affair with her brother, Michael, shakes her emotional foundation. This personal betrayal pushes Hope to reconnect with Joy, seeing her as a potential escape and source of creative inspiration. She starts to believe Joy could reignite her passion for art and life.
• Midpoint:
Joy manipulates Hope into sharing her art under Joy’s name, exploiting Hope’s emotions. Hope begins to realize that Joy's influence is both uplifting and toxic. Meanwhile, Will's infidelity becomes undeniable. Hope is caught between two betrayals—one emotional (Will) and one professional (Joy).
• Turning Point:
Hope starts to see the full scope of Joy’s manipulation when Joy begins to take full credit for her work, eclipsing Hope in the art world. Hope feels her personal identity and artistic legacy are being stolen from her, and Will’s divorce proceedings further destabilize her life.
• Dilemma:
Hope faces a choice: confront Joy and Will at great personal and professional risk, or walk away and let her identity, art, and reputation be erased. Both options seem like losing propositions, but one path offers the chance to reclaim her true self.
• Major Conflict:
Hope fights back in court, using forensic evidence to reveal that the art Joy claimed is hers. The courtroom battle is a symbolic and literal reclaiming of her identity, as Hope exposes Joy’s deception.
• Ending:
Hope reclaims her art, her name, and her life. She triumphs over both Joy and Will, divorcing the latter and severing ties with the former. Free from the toxic relationships that once defined her, Hope starts a new chapter, personally and creatively reborn.

Antagonist: Joy
Journey: From charismatic manipulator to exposed fraud, losing everything in the process.
• Beginning:
Joy is full of life, charming, and magnetic, returning to Hope’s life as a potential savior and catalyst for her creative rebirth. Beneath her vibrant facade, however, Joy is manipulative, driven by her own ambition, and sees Hope as a means to an end.
• Turning Point:
Joy successfully seduces Hope emotionally and professionally, convincing her to rely on Joy for validation and inspiration. She starts subtly taking credit for Hope’s work, positioning herself as an artistic visionary, using Hope’s talent to further her own career.
• Midpoint:
Joy’s financial troubles are revealed, and she pushes Hope into letting her take full control of Hope’s artistic output. She rationalizes her actions by exploiting Hope’s vulnerabilities, ensuring that Hope feels indebted to her and unable to break free.
• Turning Point:
As Hope starts to pull away, recognizing the manipulations, Joy doubles down. She begins publicly taking credit for Hope’s work, trying to fully erase Hope from the narrative. Joy’s need for power and recognition outweighs her personal feelings for Hope.
• Dilemma:
When Hope threatens to expose her, Joy faces the risk of losing her entire career. She must either continue the deceit, risking everything if caught, or back down and admit her fraud. Both choices jeopardize her carefully constructed persona.
• Major Conflict:
In court, Joy’s lies and manipulations are exposed. She tries to discredit Hope, using her connections in the art world, but as the evidence mounts, her credibility and career begin to crumble. The conflict escalates as Joy loses control of the narrative.
• Ending:
Joy loses her reputation, career, and influence. Once the dominant figure in Hope’s life, she is now a disgraced fraud, her manipulation and deceit laid bare. She fades into obscurity as Hope reclaims her identity and triumphs.

Antagonist-Third Wheel: Will
Journey: From passive neglect to confrontation and defeat, hiding behind avoidance.
• Beginning:
Will is emotionally unavailable, neglecting his marriage to Hope while carrying on an affair with her brother, Michael. He avoids responsibility and confrontation, preferring to maintain a polished facade rather than face his internal demons or acknowledge the disintegration of his marriage.
• Turning Point:
When Hope discovers his affair, Will is forced to confront his double life. However, rather than taking responsibility, he distances himself further, allowing Joy to manipulate Hope. Will remains passive, letting the chaos of his affair and failing marriage play out.
• Midpoint:
As Hope and Joy’s relationship intensifies, Will retreats further. He begins divorce proceedings, aiming to secure as much as possible from the marriage financially, using his relationship with Michael as emotional support.
• Turning Point:
Will becomes more aggressive as he realizes he is losing control over both Hope and Michael. He pushes for a divorce settlement that would leave Hope with little, seeking to capitalize on her weakened position.
• Dilemma:
Will must choose between continuing to manipulate Hope for financial gain or stepping back from the chaos of their relationship. His affair with Michael complicates things further, as he risks losing everything if exposed.
• Major Conflict:
In the courtroom, Will’s manipulations and avoidance are revealed, and he is forced to confront the consequences of his actions. His affair and legal maneuvers are exposed, weakening his position in the divorce.
• Ending:
Will retreats, defeated. He agrees to a divorce settlement on Hope’s terms, realizing that he cannot maintain control over her. He loses both his marriage and his influence, and Hope moves on without him.

• This reply was modified 7 months, 2 weeks ago by  Sylvia Krawczyk.